Carol Elias
Molecular and Integrative Physiology
2800 Plymouth Rd, Building 25, 3682
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
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About
I earned my PhD in Neuroscience and Behavior from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and completed my postdoctoral training in Neuroscience and Neuroendocrinology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. After my postdoctoral training, I returned to Brazil to establish my research program at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Sao Paulo, where I worked for approximately 10 years. In 2006, I returned to the United States for a 1-year sabbatical at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX and was invited to join the faculty at the Division of Hypothalamic Research. In 2013, I moved my laboratory to the University of Michigan in Ann Abor, MI. I currently hold the position of Professor in the Departments of Molecular & Integrative Physiology and of Obstetrics & Gynecology. I am the Director of the Neuroscience Graduate Program and the Director of the Michigan Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center (MMPC-Live), a National Center funded by the NIDDK. I am a member of the Latin American Academy of Sciences (ACAL) and a fellow of the American Academy for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS).
Links
Laboratory website
Qualifications
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Leptin action in the brainHarvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Endocrinology, Boston, United States
1998 - 1999
Postdoctoral Fellowship
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Neural pathways in metabolic controlHarvard Medical School, Neurology, Boston, United States
1997 - 1998
Postdoctoral Fellowship
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PhDUniversity of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
1994 - 1997
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MSUniversity of Sao Paulo (USP), Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
1991 - 1994
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BSUniversity of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
1985 - 1990
Center Memberships
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Center MemberGlobal REACH
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Center MemberCaswell Diabetes Institute
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Center MemberCenter for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design
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Center MemberCenter for Global Health Equity
Research Overview
Research in our laboratory is focused on determining the mechanisms by which metabolic imbalance (e.g. obesity and diabetes) disrupts the reproductive neuroendocrine axis. We give special attention to the neural and molecular basis of the adipocyte-derived hormone leptin action in reproductive control. We are also interested in systems neuroscience and the interplay between neuroendocrine axes in development and metabolic dysfunction.
Recent Publications
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Elias CF, Han X, Garcia-Galiano D, Sáenz de Miera C. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 2026 Feb 1; 38 (2):Journal ArticleNeuroendocrine plasticity and crosstalk in pubertal development
DOI:10.1111/jne.70145 PMID: 41716006 -
Beekly BG, Zeidan D, Chaves WF, Sta-Monica JI, Saunders T, de Miera CS, Burgess CR, Elias CF. Biology of Sex Differences, 2025 Dec 1; 16 (1):Journal ArticleLack of glutamate neurotransmission in melanin-concentrating hormone neurons alters mouse reproduction and metabolism in a sex-specific manner
DOI:10.1186/s13293-025-00742-3 PMID: 40770666 -
Elias CF, Cara A. Open Access Government, 2025 Oct 23; 48 (1): 100 - 101.Journal ArticleDeconstructing misconceptions: The relevance of androgens for human health
DOI:10.56367/oag-048-11386 -
Banks AS, Allison DB, Alquier T, Ansarullah , Austad SN, Auwerx J, Ayala JE, Baur JA, Carobbio S, Churchill GA, Dall M, de Cabo R, Donato J, Dragano NRV, Elias CF, Ferrante AW, Finck BN, Galgani JE, Gerhart-Hines Z, Goodyear LJ, Grobe JL, Gupta RK, Habegger KM, Hartig SM, Hevener AL, Heymsfield SB, Holman CD, de Angelis MH, James DE, Kazak L, Kim JB, Klingenspor M, Kong X, Kooijman S, Lantier L, Lloyd KCK, Lo JC, Lodhi IJ, MacLean PS, McGuinness OP, Medina-Gómez G, Mirmira RG, Morrison CD, Morton GJ, Müller TD, Ogawa Y, Pajuelo-Reguera D, Potthoff MJ, Qi N, Reitman ML, Rensen PCN, Rozman J, Rutkowsky JM, Sakamoto K, Scherer PE, Schwartz GJ, Sedlacek R, Selloum M, Shaikh SR, Chen S, Shulman GI, Škop V, Soukas AA, Speakman JR, Spiegelman BM, Steinberg GR, Svensson KJ, Thyfault JP, Tiganis T, Titchenell PM, Turner N, Velloso LA, Vidal-Puig A, Ward CS, Williams AS, Wolfrum C, Xu AW, Xu Y, Zierath JR. Nature Metabolism, 2025 Sep 1; 7 (9): 1765 - 1780.Journal ArticleA consensus guide to preclinical indirect calorimetry experiments
DOI:10.1038/s42255-025-01360-4 PMID: 40993210 -
Sáenz de Miera C, Bellefontaine N, Silveira MA, Fortin CN, Zampieri TT, Donato J, Williams KW, Mendes-da-Silva C, Heikkinen L, Broberger C, Frazao R, Elias CF. FASEB Journal, 2025 Jul 15; 39 (13):Journal ArticleNutritionally Responsive PMv DAT Neurons Are Dynamically Regulated During Pubertal Transition
DOI:10.1096/fj.202500398R PMID: 40577056 -
Laughlin M, McIndoe R, Adams SH, Araiza R, Ayala JE, Kennedy L, Lanoue L, Lantier L, Macy J, Malabanan E, McGuinness OP, Perry R, Port D, Qi N, Elias C, Shulman GI, Wasserman DH, Lloyd KCK. Mammalian Genome, 2024 Dec 10; 35 (4): 485 - 496.Journal ArticleThe mouse metabolic phenotyping center (MMPC) live consortium: an NIH resource for in vivo characterization of mouse models of diabetes and obesity
DOI:10.1007/s00335-024-10067-y -
Sáenz de Miera C, Bellefontaine N, Allen SJ, Myers MG, Elias CF. eLife, 2024 Jun 24;Journal ArticleGlutamate neurotransmission from leptin receptor cells is required for typical puberty and reproductive function in female mice
DOI:10.7554/eLife.93204 -
Anderson GM, Hill JW, Kaiser UB, Navarro VM, Ong KK, Perry JRB, Prevot V, Tena-Sempere M, Elias CF. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 2024 Feb 1; 20 (2): 111 - 123.Journal ArticleMetabolic control of puberty: 60 years in the footsteps of Kennedy and Mitra’s seminal work
DOI:10.1038/s41574-023-00919-z PMID: 38049643
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