Research
Overview
Our research is dedicated to deepening the understanding of how nerve cells regulate food intake under both normal physiological conditions and in the presence of disease. Our overarching goal is to investigate and identify the components and pathways within the central nervous system that mediate anorexia (loss of appetite), nausea, vomiting (emesis), and weight loss in pre-clinical models. We focus on understanding how these symptoms manifest in various diseases and, importantly, how they can be prevented, with special emphasis on chronic conditions such as cancer and diabetes.
Our research methods involve in vivo experiments in pre-clinical models including rats, mice and musk shrews.
Selected Publications
2026
Cham N, Pataro AM, Liles A, Choi GK, Fischer SL, Ramadan SA, Gao SX, Doebley SA, Chepurny OG, Holz GG, Hayes MR, De Jonghe BC, Doyle RP, Borner T. (2026) A Dicyanocobinamide Conjugate of the GLP-1R Agonist Exendin-4 Improves Glucose Homeostasis in Tumor-Bearing Rats without Exacerbating Anorexia and Weight Loss. Molecular Pharmaceutics; published September 7, 2026.
Fischer SL, Borner T. (2026) Beyond GLP-1: Amylin-based pharmacotherapy and the search for better-tolerated weight-loss drugs. Pharmacol Res; 232:108382.
Gao SX, Borner T. (2026) One receptor, two opposite approaches: efficacy and tolerability of GIPR agonism and antagonism in obesity pharmacotherapy. Appetite; 227:108723.
Bashaw AG, Roman-Ortiz C, Gao SX, Schier LA, Borner T, Kanoski SE. (2026) Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Signaling in Learning and Memory: Evidence, Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Implications. Biol Psychiatry; in press.
Gao SX, Décarie-Spain L, Gu C, Mazzini G, Kanoski SE, Borner T. (2026) GLP-1 at the Metabolic-Cognitive Interface: Reward, Affect, and Memory. Compr Physiol; 16(2):e70129.
Baumer-Harrison C, Aldaghma D, White AD, Applebey SV, Pataro AM, Mohiby AZ, Alonso B, Xiao AG, O'Farrell LS, Qian Y, Coskun T, Coghlan MP, Willard FS, Ai M, Sloop KW, Doyle RP, Borner T, De Jonghe BC, Hayes MR. (2026) GLP-1R biased cAMP agonism maintains glycemic control with reduced malaise and emesis in preclinical mammalian models. Diabetes Obes Metab; 28(3):2317-2328.
Borner T, Pataro AM, Curtis GR, Alonso B, Hu J, Fortin SM, Koul-Tiwari R, Hughes E, Kong JX, Jordan E, Barnes R, Bernardo B, Gardner M, Ma W, Gosset JR, Esquejo RM, Fortin J-P, De Jonghe BC, Bence KK, Hayes MR. (2026) GIPR signaling modulates PYY-induced hypophagia and malaise in rodents. Mol Metab; 106:102334.
2025
Borner T, Pataro AM, Doebley SA, Furst CD, White AD, Gao SX, Chow A, Sanchez-Navarro MJ, Ghidewon MY, Halas JG, Mohiby AZ, Willard FS, Grill HJ, Ai M, SammsRJ, Hayes MR, De Jonghe BC. (2025) Hypophagia and body weight loss by tirzepatide are accompanied by fewer GI adverse events compared to semaglutide in preclinical models. Sci Adv; 11(25):eadu1589.
Geisler CE, Chichura KS, Orativskyi O, Hu J, Belser DL, Pelletier CM, Borner T, Baumer-Harrison C, De Jonghe BC, Crist RC, Reiner BC, Doyle RP, Hayes MR. (2025) Hindbrain octadecaneuropeptide gliotransmission as a therapeutic target for energy balance control without nausea or emesis. Sci Transl Med; 17(808):eadu6764.
Borner T, Pataro AM, De Jonghe BC. (2025) Central mechanisms of emesis: A role for GDF15. Neurogastroenterol Motil; 37(3):e14886.
2024
Borner T, De Jonghe BC, Hayes MR. (2024) The antiemetic actions of GIP receptor agonism. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab; 326(4):E528-E536.