Seven researchers at the University of Oxford have been awarded Advanced Grants from the European Research Council, each worth up to €2.5 million over a period of five years.
The brain helps control body weight by sending signals through the sympathetic nervous system. However, trying to treat obesity by targeting this system has raised concerns about possible side effects on the heart. This stems from the fact that very little is known about how these nerve networks are organised, mainly due to their anatomical inaccessibility. Professor Domingos’ lab is addressing this by developing advanced imaging and single-cell technologies to map the specific nerve cells that control fat burning without affecting the heart. Using the ERC Advanced Grant, she will characterise these neurons across different species used in drug development. Ultimately, her goal is to discover new ways to boost fat burning without affecting appetite or heart health, through a systems-level approach to sympathetic neuroscience.
Professor Domingos comments, 'Receiving this competitive grant is an honour reserved for few, and it validates the importance of my research vision: that we must have a modern understanding of a long-overlooked neural system. This support enables my lab to pursue neuroscience-driven strategies for safe and cheaper obesity treatments—uncovering mechanisms that benefit millions.'
The seven Oxford recipients represent a diverse range of research fields across the Medical Sciences and Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Divisions
The ERC Advanced Grants competition, part of the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, is one of the most prestigious and competitive funding schemes in the EU. It gives senior researchers the opportunity to pursue ambitious, curiosity-driven projects that could lead to major scientific breakthroughs.
This year, the competition attracted 2,534 proposals, which were reviewed by panels of internationally renowned researchers. Only 281 (11 %) of proposals were selected for funding.