Decoding the Role of Dopaminergic and Kisspeptin Neurons in Puberty and Metabolism (DOPA-KISS)
Investigating neural circuits linking dopamine and kisspeptin signalling to puberty onset and metabolic regulation.
DOPA-Kiss investigates the molecular and functional diversity of hypothalamic kisspeptin neurons, their interaction with dopaminergic systems, and their role in linking nutrition, metabolism, and puberty onset.
Our Mission & Goals
The main mission of DOPA-Kiss is to unravel how dopaminergic and kisspeptin neuronal networks integrate metabolic and hormonal signals to regulate puberty onset and reproductive function.
Key goals include:
✅ Understanding their interaction with dopaminergic systems.
✅ Defining how nutrition and metabolism influence their function.
✅ Translating these findings into a better understanding of human puberty disorders.
Our Work Packages
The project is organized into three interconnected work packages, each addressing specific scientific challenges with complementary methodologies.
WP1 – Multi-OMICS
Large-scale molecular profiling of kisspeptin neurons.
WP2 – Nutrient & Metabolic Sensing
Exploring how nutritional and metabolic cues influence kisspeptin neurons.
WP3 – Genome Editing
Applying CRISPR/Cas9 tools to study kisspeptin neuron function in vivo.
Meet Our Team
Led by Prof. Manuel Tena-Sempere, DOPA-Kiss brings together a highly specialized team of neuroscientists, endocrinologists, and metabolic researchers from leading European institutions. This collaboration ensures the integration of diverse expertise for impactful research outcomes.
Recent Highlights
DOPA-Kiss is making significant progress in understanding how dopaminergic and kisspeptin neurons influence puberty and metabolic health. Here are some of our latest achievements — explore them all in our dedicated section.
New insights into kisspeptin neuron subtypes
Identification of distinct molecular profiles shaping neuronal function.
Metabolic regulation of puberty
Evidence on how nutrition modulates hypothalamic circuits.
Advanced CRISPR/Cas9 models
Development of genome-edited models to study puberty onset.
Other Activities
In addition to its core research, DOPA-Kiss participates in outreach, training, and scientific dissemination activities to share knowledge and foster collaboration.
Data Management
Committed to open science and data integrity, DOPA-Kiss implements a robust Data Management Plan to ensure secure storage, accessibility, and transparency of project data.