Kevin Williams, Ph.D.

Dr. Williams received his A.S. degree from Collin County Community College in 1997.  Dr. Williams subsequently received his B.S. degree in the study of Biology from the University of Texas at Dallas in 1999. In 2006, he completed his PhD in Neuroscience from Tulane University in New Orleans, where he worked with Dr. Bret N. Smith (currently at the University of Kentucky). He joined the Division of Hypothalamic Research in the Department of Internal Medicine here at UT Southwestern, following completion of his postdoctoral studies with Dr. Joel K. Elmquist.  His lab uses mouse genetics, electrophysiology, and systems neuroscience approaches to study the cellular mechanisms within the brain which may underlie the coordinated control of food intake, body weight, and glucose homeostasis.

Undergraduate	University of Texas at Dallas (1999), Biology
Graduate School	Tulane University of Louisiana (2006), Cognition and Neuroscience

• Central Autonomic Control
• Diabetes and Glucose Homeostasis
• Electrophysiology
• Neurophysiology
• Obesity and Body Weight Homeostasis
• Synaptic Transmission

Featured Publications

Melanocortin 4 receptors reciprocally regulate sympathetic and parasympathetic preganglionic neurons.

Sohn JW, Harris LE, Berglund ED, Liu T, Vong L, Lowell BB, Balthasar N, Williams KW, Elmquist JK Cell 2013 Jan 152 3 612-9

From neuroanatomy to behavior: central integration of peripheral signals regulating feeding behavior.

Williams KW, Elmquist JK Nat. Neurosci. 2012 Oct 15 10 1350-5

Serotonin 2C receptor activates a distinct population of arcuate pro-opiomelanocortin neurons via TRPC channels.

Sohn JW, Xu Y, Jones JE, Wickman K, Williams KW, Elmquist JK Neuron 2011 Aug 71 3 488-97

Segregation of acute leptin and insulin effects in distinct populations of arcuate proopiomelanocortin neurons

Williams KW, Margatho LO, Lee CE, Choi M, Lee S, Scott MM, Elias CF, Elmquist JK J Neurosci February 2010 30(7) 2472-9

Acute effects of leptin require PI3K signaling in hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons in mice

Hill JW, Williams KW, Ye C, Luo J, Balthasar N, Coppari R, Cowley MA, Cantley LC, Lowell BB, Elmquist JK. J Clin Invest May 2008 118(5) 1796-805

Shift in Kiss1 Cell Activity Requires Estrogen Receptor a.

Frazão R, Cravo RM, Donato J, Ratra DV, Clegg DJ, Elmquist JK, Zigman JM, Williams KW, Elias CF J. Neurosci. 2013 Feb 33 7 2807-20

Leptin signaling in kiss1 neurons arises after pubertal development.

Cravo RM, Frazao R, Perello M, Osborne-Lawrence S, Williams KW, Zigman JM, Vianna C, Elias CF PLoS ONE 2013 8 3 e58698

Leptin receptor expression in hindbrain Glp-1 neurons regulates food intake and energy balance in mice.

Scott MM, Williams KW, Rossi J, Lee CE, Elmquist JK J. Clin. Invest. 2011 Jun 121 6 2413-21

Modulation of the central melanocortin system by leptin, insulin, and serotonin: co-ordinated actions in a dispersed neuronal network.

Williams KW, Scott MM, Elmquist JK Eur. J. Pharmacol. 2011 Jun 660 1 2-12

Induction of leptin resistance by activation of cAMP-Epac signaling.

Fukuda M, Williams KW, Gautron L, Elmquist JK Cell Metab. 2011 Mar 13 3 331-9

• Mentored Research Scientist Development Award
  NIH-NIDDK (087780) (2010)
• Post-Doctoral Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award
  NIH-NIDDK (DK077487) (2006)
• Senior Vice President's award for excellence in research and presentation by a graduate student
  Tulane University - research days (2004)
• B.S. awarded with cum laude
  The University of Texas at Dallas (1999)
• A.S. awarded with magna cum laude
  Collin County Community College (1997)
• UTD Redman scholars program recipient
  Redman Foundation Scholarship (1997)

• The Endocrine Society (2011)
• The Society for Neuroscience (2002)