What We Do
We study the neurobiology of energy balance. Using cutting-edge approaches, we are working to understand the molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms through which the brain regulates food intake and energy expenditure. We are also developing novel technologies to better understand how the brain effects changes in behavior and physiology.
Molecules
We are working to characterize the molecular composition of brainstem cell types regulating body weight, using ensemble and single-cell profiling methodologies.
Cells
Using functional approaches, such as in vivo calcium imaging and optogenetics, we are probing the function of discrete cell types throughout the brain.
Circuits
Through the development and application of new viral approaches, we are working to identify polysynaptic circuits regulating feeding and thermogenesis.
Behavior & Physiology
Our lab is most interested in characterizing the brainstem cell types regulating behavioral and physiologic processes responsible for maintaining energy balance.
What We Are Publishing
Latest News
Julian Maldonado joins the lab
Julian was previously an undergraduate researcher in the Nectow lab. He is now rejoining the lab to study neuro-cardiac interactions.
Srikanth’s recent paper in Cell is featured in the New York Times
The article describes recent work on the neurobiology of energy balance and features Srikanth's recent paper on satiation.
Srikanth’s paper on neuropeptidergic neurons regulating satiation is published in Cell
The work, led by Srikanth Chowdhury, Nachiket Kamatkar, and Wendy Wang (our collaborator from Xiao Wang's Lab) describes a key
Alexander Sisti joins the lab
Alexander recently completed a residency in internal medicine at the Brigham and is now a fellow in cardiology at NYP-Columbia.
Jing Liu joins the lab
Jing joins us from Henry Ginsberg's lab here at Columbia. Welcome, Jing!
Alex is awarded an ASCI E-Gen award
Alex was awarded an Emerging-Generation award from the American Society for Clinical Investigation.
Srikanta is awarded an ADA postdoctoral fellowship
Srikanta was recently awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the American Diabetes Association. Congrats!
Qiankun Li joins the lab
Qiankun joins us from the University of California, Berkeley where he completed a B.S. in Applied Mathematics. Welcome, Qiankun!
Junlin Wu joins the lab
Junlin joins us from the University of California, San Diego where he completed a B.S. in Data Science. Welcome, Junlin!
Amajindi Nwankpa joins the Nectow Lab
Amajindi joins us from Maya Kumar's lab at Stanford, after recently graduating from New York University, Class of 2022. Welcome,
Charlotte Kane joins the Nectow Lab
Charlotte joins our lab after recently graduating from The University of Chicago, Class of 2023, working in the lab of
Christa is awarded SPURS fellowship for second year
Christa was recently awarded a summer fellowship from Columbia's Summer Program for Underrepresented Students (SPURS) for the second year in
The lab is awarded a second year of funding through the Berrie Obesity Initiative
This grant will continue to enable us to characterize the cell type diversity within the DRN and how it contributes
Our lab is awarded a second year of NYNORC funding
Our NYNORC grant will allow the lab to continue studies to identify novel druggable targets with the mammalian dorsal raphe
Brianna Mariotti and Patrick Citrano Graduate
Brianna and Patrick, both Master's students in the lab, have graduated with their Master's degree in Human Nutrition. Congrats!
Christa Akerele is awarded Columbia’s SPURS fellowship
Christa was recently awarded a summer fellowship from Columbia's Summer Program for Underrepresented Students (SPURS) to continue her work on
Marc Schneeberger becomes assistant professor at Yale University
Marc is the newest faculty member of Yale's Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology. Congrats, Marc! We can't wait to
Patrick Citrano joins the lab as a Master’s student
Patrick is a Master’s student in the Human Nutrition program here at Columbia. He joins us from the USC, where
Brianna Mariotti joins the lab as a Master’s student
Brianna is a Master's student in the Human Nutrition program at Columbia. She hails from the University of Michigan, where
Srikanth Chowdhury is awarded a Berrie Postdoctoral Fellowship in Diabetes Research
Srikanth was recently awarded the prestigious Russell Berrie Foundation's Berrie Fellowship in Diabetes Research. Congrats, Srikanth!
Our review on the role of the DRN in energy balance is out in TINS
In this review, published this week in Trends in Neurosciences, we discuss the key role of the dorsal raphe nucleus
Our lab is awarded a Berrie Program grant in the Neurobiology of Body Weight Regulation
This grant will enable our lab to better understand the mechanisms through which the DRN senses and responds to internal
Our lab is awarded a grant from the New York Nutrition and Obesity Research Center
This grant will allow our lab to push forward our molecular and physiology studies to investigate druggable targets with the
Tasneem Sadok joins the Nectow Lab
Tasneem joins our lab after recently graduating from UCLA, Class of 2021, working in the lab of Lindsay De Biase.
Our viral technologies review is published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience
This review, in collaboration with Eric Nestler, outlines the key principles and properties of viruses that enable their use as
Nectow Lab receives Addgene’s Blue Flame Award
Addgene's Blue Flame Award recognizes investigators with a plasmid that has been distributed more than 100 times. The lab was
Srikanta (Srikanth) Chowdhury joins the Nectow Lab
Srikanth joins us from the University of Chittagong in Bangladesh, after recently completing his PhD in Neuroscience with Akihiro Yamanaka
Michael Hill-Oliva joins the Nectow Lab
Michael joins our lab after recently graduating from Princeton University, Class of 2020, completing a senior thesis with Danelle Devenport.
Nachi Kamatkar is awarded a postdoctoral fellowship
Nachi has recently earned a position on an NIH T32 training grant (Training in Arteriosclerosis Research). Congrats, Nachi!
Nachiket (Nachi) Kamatkar joins the Nectow Lab
Nachi joins the Nectow Lab after recently completing his PhD with Jean Hebert and Matthew Levy at Albert Einstein.
Our paper on dorsal raphe circuits is published in Cell
Our collaborative team, led by co-authors Marc Schneeberger, Luca Parolari, and Tania Das Banerjee demonstrates a key role for the
The Nectow Lab moves to Columbia University
The Nectow Lab moves to Columbia University’s Department of Medicine, from Princeton University’s Princeton Neuroscience Institute.