Maribel Rios

Maribel Rios is a Professor of Neuroscience at the Tufts University School of Medicine. Her research focuses on the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in modulating energy homeostasis and affective behavior, using molecular, biochemical, and genetic tools. She investigates neural circuits in the brain, particularly in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), and their regulation by BDNF. Rios holds a PhD from Tufts University (1997) and a BA from Boston University (1988). She has been continuously funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American Diabetes Association, and others, focusing on BDNF signaling, metabolic regulation, and sex-specific effects of mGluR5. Her teaching includes courses such as 'Neurobiology of Disease' and 'Basic Skills for Scientists.' Rios has authored over 40 scholarly articles, many in high-impact journals like Nature Metabolism and Journal of Neuroscience.

Education:

• PhD in Neuroscience, Tufts University, 1997
• BA in Biology, Boston University, 1988

Research Interests: Her lab explores BDNF's role in energy balance and affective states through genetically modified mice models. Key areas include astrocyte signaling in metabolic circuits, synaptic plasticity, and the interplay between BDNF and neurotransmitter systems like GABA and serotonin.

Grants & Funding:

• NIH grants (2015–present) on BDNF signaling in VMH astrocytes and energy balance
• American Diabetes Association grant (2016–2019) on α2δ-1 and glucose homeostasis
• Klarman Family Foundation grants (2008–2013) investigating BDNF and binge eating

Teaching & Mentorship: Courses include 'Neurobiology of Disease' and 'Basic Skills for Scientists,' emphasizing translational neuroscience and experimental techniques. She advises graduate students in Tufts' Neuroscience and Biomedical Sciences programs.