Submitted by aml95 on Thu, 06/11/2025 - 11:00
Three research groups from the University of Cambridge, the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre at UCL and the University of South Florida (USF) have been awarded a highly prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Synergy Grant to study the biology of instinctive behaviour.
Some types of animal behaviour are instinctive in that animals know how to seek food, socialise with each other, escape from predators and defend their territory without having to learn these behaviours.
In contrast, in human beings, we tend to believe that how much we eat, our ability to socialise, the flight/fight response and aggressive behaviour are completely under personal control. Now by joining forces, the three teams known as the INSTINCT consortium, will embark on a highly ambitious research programme to deliver a step-change in our understanding of instinctive behaviour in animals and humans.
In previous research, the groups of Professor Sadaf Farooqi (IMS-MRL, Cambridge), Professor Yong Xu (USF) and Professor Tiago Branco (Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, UCL) have shown that pathways in a key part of the brain called the hypothalamus control a range of instinctive behaviours. In children, genetic mutations which disrupt these pathways can cause overeating, obesity and in some cases, autistic traits, aggression and even severe anxiety.
Now, funded by a 10 million Euro grant from the ERC, the researchers will study people with genetic changes which affect hypothalamic pathways using super high-resolution brain scans to visualise how the brain works in response to stress or when a person is hungry or full. They will then explore how the same genetic changes affect the metabolism of mice and their behaviour in a natural social setting. Using state of the art technologies, they will then unravel the precise way in which the wiring of the brain controls instinctive behaviour across species.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with my colleagues Yong Xu and Tiago Branco on such a fundamental research question which has significant potential to impact conditions which harm human health such as obesity and anxiety”. Professor Sadaf Farooqi, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge.
“This funding from the ERC will allow us to be bold and innovative as we investigate instinctive behaviours at unprecedented breadth and depth, linking studies in mice and humans.” Professor Yong Xu, University of South Florida.
“By coming together, our three groups can take on a challenge that no one group could address on their own. Our studies have the potential to transform societal understanding of the biological contribution to human behaviour – often expressed as the age-old debate between nature and nurture”. Professor Tiago Branco, Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, UCL.
Sixty-six research teams, bringing together 239 scientists, will receive a total of €684 million in European Research Council Synergy Grants in the 2025 award round to tackle some of the most challenging scientific questions across a broad range of fields.
"Collaboration is at the heart of the ERC Synergy Grants. In our latest round, teams of researchers will join forces to address the most complex scientific problems together - this time, they are more international than ever. The competition was fierce, with many outstanding proposals left unfunded. With more funds, the ERC could fully capitalise on this wealth of first-class science. Such scientific endeavours are what Europe needs to be at the real forefront." Professor Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council.
Press release from the ERC
Congratulations to our colleagues across the University of Cambridge who also were awarded Synergy grants - this really showcases our strengths across Cambridge and demonstrates we are back playing a major role in European science.
News story on the University of Cambridge website
