Carleton University Receives Funding for Obesity & Depression Study

Obesity, Depression Grants Worth $1.3 Million

Link to Article | http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Obesity+depression+grants+worth/3330401/story.html

WEDNESDAY, July 28th, 2010 (Ottawa Citizen) – Carleton University researchers have received $1.3 million in funding to continue their investigations in depression and obesity. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) said Monday that it had awarded Alfonso Abizaid more than $543,000 for his investigation into the role that a hormone called ghrelin plays in the struggle with obesity. His current study looks at a link between this hormone and stress-induced obesity. So far, Abizaid has learned that the hormone may generate cravings for food, and other things humans find pleasurable, such as drugs, sex and gambling. Meanwhile, Hymie Anisman, who received $815,514, spearheaded an investigation into how stress and anxiety could lead to depression. His funding will be used to examine the biological process that might be responsible for making animals resilient or vulnerable to stressful situations. Both researchers are members of Carleton’s neuroscience department.