Carol Elias
Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director Academic Program
Neuroscience Graduate Program
Molecular and Integrative Physiology
2800 Plymouth Rd, Building 25, 3682
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
[email protected]

Available to mentor

Carol Elias
Professor
  • About
  • Links
  • Qualifications
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications
  • About

    I earned my PhD in Neuroscience and Behavior from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and completed my postdoctoral training in Neuroscience and Neuroendocrinology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. After my postdoctoral training, I returned to Brazil to establish my research program at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Sao Paulo, where I worked for approximately 10 years. In 2006, I returned to the United States for a 1-year sabbatical at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX and was invited to join the faculty at the Division of Hypothalamic Research. In 2013, I moved my laboratory to the University of Michigan in Ann Abor, MI. I currently hold the position of Professor in the Departments of Molecular & Integrative Physiology and of Obstetrics & Gynecology. I am the Director of the Neuroscience Graduate Program and the Director of the Michigan Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center (MMPC-Live), a National Center funded by the NIDDK. I am a member of the Latin American Academy of Sciences (ACAL) and a fellow of the American Academy for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS).

    Links
    • Laboratory website
    Qualifications
    • Leptin action in the brain
      Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Endocrinology, 1999
    • Neural pathways in metabolic control
      Harvard Medical School, Neurology, 1998
    • PhD
      University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 1997
    • MS
      University of Sao Paulo (USP), Sao Paulo, 1994
    • BS
      University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, 1990
    Center Memberships
    • Center Member
      Global REACH
    • Center Member
      Caswell Diabetes Institute
    • Center Member
      Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design
    Research Overview

    Research in our laboratory is focused on determining the mechanisms by which metabolic imbalance (e.g. obesity and diabetes) disrupts the reproductive neuroendocrine axis. We give special attention to the neural and molecular basis of the adipocyte-derived hormone leptin action in reproductive control. We are also interested in systems neuroscience and the interplay between neuroendocrine axes in development and metabolic dysfunction.

    Recent Publications See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Metabolic control of puberty: 60 years in the footsteps of Kennedy and Mitra's seminal work.
      Anderson GM, Hill JW, Kaiser UB, Navarro VM, Ong KK, Perry JRB, Prevot V, Tena-Sempere M, Elias CF. Nat Rev Endocrinol, 2024 Feb; 20 (2): 111 - 123. DOI:10.1038/s41574-023-00919-z
      PMID: 38049643
    • Journal Article
      Remote Neuronal Activation Coupled with Automated Blood Sampling to Induce and Measure Circulating Luteinizing Hormone in Mice.
      Sáenz de Miera C, Feng J, Elias CF, Qi N. J Vis Exp, 2023 Aug 25; (198): DOI:10.3791/65875
      PMID: 37677024
    • Journal Article
      Fast neurotransmitter identity of MCH neurons: Do contents depend on context?
      Beekly BG, Rupp A, Burgess CR, Elias CF. Front Neuroendocrinol, 2023 Jul; 70: 101069 DOI:10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101069
      PMID: 37149229
    • Journal Article
      Deletion of Androgen Receptor in LepRb Cells Improves Estrous Cycles in Prenatally Androgenized Mice.
      Cara AL, Burger LL, Beekly BG, Allen SJ, Henson EL, Auchus RJ, Myers MG, Moenter SM, Elias CF. Endocrinology, 2023 Jan 9; 164 (3): DOI:10.1210/endocr/bqad015
      PMID: 36683455
    • Journal Article
      Sex differences in the coexpression of prokineticin receptor 2 and gonadal steroids receptors in mice.
      Cisneros-Larios B, Elias CF. Front Neuroanat, 2022 16: 1057727 DOI:10.3389/fnana.2022.1057727
      PMID: 36686573
    • Journal Article
      Ablation of Growth Hormone Receptor in GABAergic Neurons Leads to Increased Pulsatile Growth Hormone Secretion.
      Dos Santos WO, Wasinski F, Tavares MR, Campos AMP, Elias CF, List EO, Kopchick JJ, Szawka RE, Donato J. Endocrinology, 2022 Aug 1; 163 (8): DOI:10.1210/endocr/bqac103
      PMID: 35803590
    • Journal Article
      Effects of the Isolated and Combined Ablation of Growth Hormone and IGF-1 Receptors in Somatostatin Neurons.
      Chaves FM, Wasinski F, Tavares MR, Mansano NS, Frazao R, Gusmao DO, Quaresma PGF, Pedroso JAB, Elias CF, List EO, Kopchick JJ, Szawka RE, Donato J. Endocrinology, 2022 May 1; 163 (5): DOI:10.1210/endocr/bqac045
      PMID: 35395079
    • Journal Article
      Distribution of androgen receptor mRNA in the prepubertal male and female mouse brain.
      Cara AL, Henson EL, Beekly BG, Elias CF. J Neuroendocrinol, 2021 Dec; 33 (12): e13063 DOI:10.1111/jne.13063
      PMID: 34866263