Jonathan Hommel

Jonathan D. Hommel, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and serves as Associate Director of the Center for Addiction Sciences & Therapeutics. He holds a PhD in Integrative Biology (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 2005) and a BS in Genetics (Texas A&M University, 2000). Dr. Hommel’s research focuses on neuropharmacological mechanisms underlying obesity, eating disorders, and addiction, particularly the role of neuromedin U (NMU) in regulating food addiction, reward pathways, and metabolic processes. His work employs techniques such as viral-mediated gene knockdown, immunohistochemistry, and animal models to study CNS circuits and develop pharmaceutical interventions.

Key research interests include: (1) Neuromedin U’s modulation of neuronal activity in obesity-related behaviors and addiction; (2) Neurocircuitry linking hypothalamic metabolic centers to limbic reward systems; (3) Development of small-molecule therapeutics targeting NMU receptors and addiction pathways. He has secured NIH grants (e.g., R01DA053472, R01DK106229) and industry partnerships (e.g., Ridgeline Therapeutics) to advance translational research.

His recent publications address cocaine’s impact on prefrontal cortex networks, opioid prescription adherence, and hypothalamic contributions to bone remodeling. Dr. Hommel leads projects on addiction neurocircuits, alcohol dependence, and obesity-linked diabetes therapies. He collaborates with teams in pharmacology, neuroscience, and translational medicine, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to address public health challenges in addiction and metabolic disorders.

Dr. Hommel’s lab integrates basic science with clinical relevance, aiming to translate discoveries into treatments for eating disorders, substance use disorders, and related comorbidities. Ongoing work explores novel therapeutic targets in neuromedin U pathways and the neurobiological underpinnings of compulsive behaviors.