Dr Stuart McDougall heads a laboratory in the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Australia. His primary interests are in neuronal signalling and synaptic integration. His research has concentrated on the viscerosensory system, with a particular focus on neural signals sent from the internal organs to the brain via the vagus nerve. The McDougall laboratory aims to manipulate behaviours (satiety, memory) and physiological outcomes (blood pressure) via selective modulation of viscerosensory signals. To this end the lab is currently pursuing optoceutical and other strategies to treat diseases such as obesity and hypertension.