Tamas Horvath
2009 Regional Award Finalist — Faculty
Current Position:
Inaugural Jane & David W. Wallace Professor of Biomedical Research
Institution:
Yale University
Discipline:
Neuroscience
Recognized for: Neurobiology of obesity and neuroendocrine physiology
Areas of Research Interest and Expertise: Neuroendocrine regulation of homeostasis,synaptic plasticity
Biography:
PhD, Neurobiology, Attila József University, Hungary
DVM, University of Veterinary Sciences, Hungary
Tamas Horvath research has been focusing on neuronal circuitries that support physiological and pathological homeostatic conditions, including processes associated with reproduction, energy metabolism and neurodegeneration.
His main interest is the neuroendocrine regulation of homeostasis with particular emphasis on metabolic disorders, such as obesity and diabetes, and the effect of metabolic signals on higher brain functions and neurodegeneration. Dr. Horvath has active research programs to pursue the role of synaptic plasticity in the mediation of peripheral hormones’ effects on the central nervous system.
Dr. Horvath is also studying the role of mitochondrial membrane potential in normal and pathological brain functions with particular emphasis on the acute effect of mitochondria in neuronal transmission and neuroprotection.
"My research combines classical neurobiological approaches, including electrophysiology and neuroanatomy, with endocrine and genetic techniques to better understand biological events at the level of the organism."
Key Publications:
- Pinto S, Liu H, Roseberry AG, Diano S, Shanabrough M, Cai X, Friedman JM, Horvath TL. Rapid Re-wiring of Arcuate Nucleus Feeding Circuits by Leptin. Science. 2004
- Diano D, Farr SA, Benoit SC, Mcnay EC, da Silva I, Horvath B, Gaskin FS, Nonaka N, Jaeger LB, Xu L, Banks WA, Morley JE,Pinto S, Sherwin RS, Yamada KA, Sleeman MW, Tschöp MH, Horvath TL. Ghrelin controls hippocampal spine synapse density and memory performance. Nature Neuroscience. 2006
- Gao, Q., Mezei, G., Nie, Y., Rao, Y., Choi, C.S., Bechmann, I., Leranth, C., Toran-Allerand, D., Priest, C.A., Roberts, J.L., Gao, X.B., Mobbs, C., Shulman, G.I., Diano, S., Horvath, T.L. Anorectic estrogen mimics leptin's effect on the rewiring of melanocortin cells and Stat3 signaling in obese animals. Nat Med. 2007
- Andrews ZB, Liu Z-W, Wallingford N, Erion DM, Borok E, Friedman JM, Tschop MH, Shanabrough M, Cline G, Shulman GI, Coppola A, Gao X-B, Horvath TL, Diano S. UCP2 mediates ghrelin’s action on NPY/AgRP neurons by lowering free radicals. Nature. 2008
Other Honors:
2012 7th John K. and Mary E. Davidson Lectureship and Award of the Department of Physiology, University of Toronto
2012 The Ernst Oppenheimer Award, The Endocrine Society
2010 The NIH Director’s Pioneer Award
In the Media:
Brain-boosting Proteins Triggered Through Natural Birth But Not Through C-section. redOrbit. August 9, 2012
Natural Birth Kickstarts Key Brain Protein Production In Mice, C-Section Does Not: Study. International Business Times, Science. August 8, 2012
Is overeating down to a fear of ageing? Mail online. 29 August 2011
Fit or fat your brain decides. Indiatoday. August 3, 2010