Laura Rupprecht, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies
Department of Pharmacology

Office Ι 4029B Thurston-Bowles Bldg, CB #7178
Email Ι lerupp@email.unc.edu
Lab Website Ι Rupprecht Lab
Biographical Sketch Ι Rupprecht Biosketch

Research Synopsis

The long-term goal of my research is to uncover the gut-brain mechanisms underlying behaviors related to substance use. By defining how the substances we consume impact our behaviors and disease states, the Rupprecht Lab uncovers novel molecular targets for treating disease, such as obesity and alcohol use disorder.

There is considerable biological and behavioral overlap in the pathways that regulate food- and drug-intake. In some disease states (binge eating disorder, obesity), disordered eating is considered an addiction. I study appetite regulation and disorders of food intake from a neuropsychiatry perspective. Mounting evidence suggests that gut hormone analogs, such as Ozempic, may serve as pharmacotherapies for diseases of dysregulated food and alcohol consumption. Inside the gut, specialized sensory cells called neuropod cells detect the presence of stimuli in the intestine and communicate to the brain within milliseconds. Using this framework, the Rupprecht Lab studies how compounds, such as nutrients and alcohol, impact gut-brain communication and behavior.

Publications

Click here for a full list of publications.