Gina M LeinningerDr. Gina M. Leinninger is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology at Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing, Michigan. She earned a B.S. in Chemistry at the University of Michigan-Flint, followed by a Ph.D. in Neuroscience fro the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. After completing her postdoctoral work in the laboratory of Dr. Martin Myers Jr. at the University of Michigan, she joined the MSU faculty in 2012. Dr. Leinninger's laboratory studies show that neuronal circuits in the brain modify feeding, physical activity, and other behaviors to regulate body weight, particularly focusing on the role of the lateral hypothalamic area in these processes. The long-term goal of her work is to understand how communication between the brain and body is disrupted to promote the development of energy balance disorders, such as obesity or anorexia, and potential circuits amenable for treatment of these diseases. She combines cutting edge molecular and viral tools to define the mechanisms by which specific types of neurons modulate ingestive and locomotor behaviors that impact body weight. Her research program is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and she has authored over 30 peer reviewed publications. Read More Read Less