Dr Aaron Verty received his PhD in Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience from the University of New England.
His doctoral work investigated the mediatory role of endogenous cannabinoid system and its role in body weight control, with an emphasis on endocannabinoid drugs (chemicals that bind to the same brain receptors as marijuana).
After completion of his PhD studies, he accepted an NHMRC post-doctoral fellowship with Professor Brian Oldfield at Monash University. During this time he was awarded the prestigious Peter Doherty (Biomedical) Fellowship to investigate the central neural role of the endocannabinoid system in energy homeostasis. Various mentoring and collaborative efforts have resulted in 15 peer reviewed publications in the field of cannabinoid pharmacology.
He is currently involved in investigating the role of GPR55 receptor in appetite regulation. He is also interested in exploring the role of food addiction in the aetiology of obesity and the neurobiology of opioid addiction.
Publications
Refereed Journal Articles
Verty, A.N., Lockie, S.H., Stefanidis, A. & Oldfield, B.J. (2013) 'Anti-obesity effects of the combined administration of CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant and melanin-concentrating hormone antagonist SNAP-94847 in diet-induced obese mice', Int J Obes (Lond), vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 279-87.
Jenkin, K.A., Verty, A.N., McAinch, A.J. & Hryciw, D.H. (2012) 'Endocannabinoids and the renal proximal tubule: An emerging role in diabetic nephropathy', Int J Biochem Cell Biol, vol. 44, no. 11, pp. 2028-31.
Verty, A.N., Evetts, M.J., Crouch, G.J., McGregor, I.S., Stefanidis, A. & Oldfield, B.J. (2011) 'The cannabinoid receptor agonist THC attenuates weight loss in a rodent model of activity-based anorexia', Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 36, no. 7, pp. 1349-58.
Verty, A.N., Allen, A.M. & Oldfield, B.J. (2010) 'The endogenous actions of hypothalamic peptides on brown adipose tissue thermogenesis in the rat', Endocrinology, vol. 151, no. 9, pp. 4236-46.
Stefanidis, A., Verty, A.N., Allen, A.M., Owens, N.C., Cowley, M.A. & Oldfield, B.J. (2009) 'The role of thermogenesis in antipsychotic drug-induced weight gain', Obesity (Silver Spring), vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 16-24.
Verty, A.N., Allen, A.M. & Oldfield, B.J. (2009) 'The effects of rimonabant on brown adipose tissue in rat: implications for energy expenditure', Obesity (Silver Spring), vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 254-61.
Research grants
2012: Internal funding grant from Victoria University: $2,000
2007 to 2009: NHMRC: $122,750 per year
Areas of expertise
- Food and drug addiction (addiction neuroscience)
- Obesity/energy metabolism
