William Colmers

Dr. William Colmers is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, where he investigates the role of neuropeptides like Neuropeptide Y (NPY) in brain functions related to energy balance, obesity, cachexia, and anxiety. His research focuses on NPY receptor mechanisms (Y1/Y2) in the hypothalamus and amygdala, funded by CIHR and NIH.

• Education: BA in Earth & Planetary Sciences (Johns Hopkins, 1974), MA in Earth & Planetary Sciences and Biophysics (Johns Hopkins, 1975), Dr rer nat in Zoology (University of Regensburg, 1980)

Research Interests: His lab studies how NPY regulates food intake, energy expenditure, and stress responses through hypothalamic and amygdala circuits. Key techniques include electrophysiology, neuroanatomy, and organotypic slice models. Recent publications highlight NPY's role in stress resilience, dendritic plasticity, and autonomic nerve projections to adipose tissue.

Scientific Awards: Recognized as an AHFMR Medical Scientist. His work is supported by competitive grants from CIHR and NIH.

Key Article Trends: 2018–2020 publications emphasize NPY's interaction with leptin, BDNF, and kappa opioid receptors in energy balance and stress, alongside methodological innovations like long-lived amygdala slice cultures.

Labs & Teams: He leads a lab in the Medical Sciences Building with research technician Taylor Muller, contributing to obesity and anxiety research.