The hypothalamus is a small structure in the centre of the human brain. Despite its small size, the hypothalamus controls a wide range of bodily functions, such as energy and fluid balance, core body temperature, circadian rhythm, sleep-wake states, stress responses, growth, reproduction, and social behaviours. The hypothalamus can perform this plethora of complex functions because of its staggering cell diversity, with hundreds of unique cell types that communicate with many areas of the brain, as well as with the vascular and endocrine systems. Dysfunction of the hypothalamus is observed in numerous human diseases, including neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Our research aims to understand how the hypothalamus forms and functions, and how it is affected in different human diseases. To this end, we are using mouse genetic models and human stem cell derived hypothalamic organoids.

The lab is supported by:

  • Australia Research Council Discovery Project
  • National Health and Medical Research Council Ideas Project

We are currently recruiting Honours and HDR students for projects relating to hypothalamus development, function and dysfunction, including those mentioned below. Please send your CV to Stefan Thor s.thor@uq.edu.au for review.

  • Project 1: Making sleep neurons in a dish
  • Project 2: Making fertility neurons in a dish
  • Project 3: The impact of neurodegeneration on the hypothalamus
  • Project 4: The impact of autism spectrum disorder on the hypothalamus