A*STAR IMCB’s Dr Sarah Luo receives 2026 Helmholtz Young Investigator in Diabetes Award

News 01072026 2 Sarah Luo Diabetes Award

Dr Sarah Luo, Principal Investigator at A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (A*STAR IMCB), has received the 2026 Helmholtz Young Investigator in Diabetes (HeIDi) Award. Presented at the Helmholtz Diabetes Conference, the award recognises outstanding early-career scientists whose innovative research is advancing the field of diabetes.

Sarah was one of two recipients selected by a jury comprising the plenary speakers of the 13th Helmholtz Diabetes Conference, held in Munich from 21 to 23 September 2026.

At the conference, Sarah presented her research on “Brain-Organ Crosstalk in Metabolic Regulation”. Her work explores a fundamental question in metabolic health: how does the brain communicate with the rest of the body to regulate appetite and metabolism?

At IMCB, Sarah’s laboratory studies the neural pathways connecting the brain with metabolic organs such as the liver and gut. The team investigates how these circuits sense nutrient availability, immune status and metabolic state, and how changes in this communication may contribute to conditions such as obesity and diabetes.

This research builds on Sarah’s 2018 Science study, which identified a neural circuit involved in appetite regulation. Her laboratory now investigates the broader network of neural connections between the brain and peripheral organs, with the aim of deepening our understanding of metabolic regulation and developing new strategies for managing metabolic diseases.

Sarah’s research has previously been recognised through the 2021 National Research Foundation Fellowship and the 2021 Young Scientist Award. Alongside leading her research programme, she serves as A*STAR IMCB’s Director of Education & Training, supporting mentorship and talent development across the institute.

A*STAR IMCB congratulates Dr Sarah Luo on this well-deserved recognition of her contributions to neuroscience and metabolic research!