The Integrated Neurobiology of Food Intake, Addiction and Stress

This multidisciplinary project will explore the neurobiology of addiction and eating behaviour and the complex socio-psychological forces that can lead to its dysregulation. These forces include dietary components (e.g. highly palatable foods and alcohol), some of which may have addictive properties, but also cultural and social pressures and cognitive-affective factors (perceived stress and stress regulation, anxiety and depression), and family-genetic influences on these. The project will provide new data from human studies that is needed to inform health policy initiatives, underpinned by mechanistic research to establish a solid scientific basis for this advice.

The European added value of this project lies in building up the necessary critical mass in several fields of expertise. The research team is drawn from seven member states (Sweden, Italy, Hungary, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain and the U.K.), and includes clinical international experts crossing boundaries between clinical research and basic mechanisms. Clinical/human expertise includes clinical psychology and epidemiology, human genetics related to eating disorders, human nutrition, eating and addictive behaviour disorders, endocrinology/neuroendocrine and human brain imaging. Complimentary preclinical expertise includes the basic mechanisms of eating behaviour and addiction, endocrine/neuroendocrine regulators, stress and the mechanisms of opiate dependence, and cannabinoid actions.