Fabien Naneix

Fabien Naneix is a Lecturer in Neuroscience at the Rowett Institute, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, where he leads the Naneix Lab since joining in June 2020. His research examines developmental aspects of cognitive and neurobiological substrates underlying food-related behaviours, with emphasis on early-life diet impacts.

His educational background includes a PhD in Neuroscience (2012), MSc in Neuroscience and Neuropsychopharmacology (2008), and BSc in Cellular Biology and Physiology (2006), all from the University of Bordeaux.

Dr. Naneix's work centers on how adolescent exposure to sugar, high-fat, and protein-deficient diets alters brain function, particularly investigating dopamine, noradrenaline, and endocannabinoid systems in prefrontal-amygdala-hippocampal circuits. Using rodent models, his lab studies reward processing, memory formation, and nutrient-seeking behaviours to understand obesity mechanisms.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a cohesive focus on nutritional neuroscience, with emerging trends in protein appetite regulation and developmental critical periods for diet-induced neural alterations.

His scientific recognitions include:

• The Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard Award (2022)
• EBBS 2019 Travel award
• The Physiology Society travel award (2019)
• Research Leadership Programme, University of Leicester (2018)
• Postdoc Prize talk, University of Leicester (2017)

Dr. Naneix mentors undergraduate honours students (e.g., Michela and Alfredo in 2022) and accepts PhD candidates. His lab secured funding from Tenovus Scotland (2021), The Royal Society, and Wellcome Trust ISSF for research on developmental obesity's impact on corticolimbic circuits.

The Naneix Lab operates within the Rowett Institute's 'Healthy Lifecourse and Nutrition Neuroscience' theme, collaborating with the Aberdeen Cardiovascular and Diabetes Centre. The team engages in public outreach, including Explorathon 2021 workshops at Aberdeen Science Centre.