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 Baylor College of Dentistry
professor receives Regents Professor Award
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents recently named Dr. Larry L. Bellinger, professor in biomedical sciences at Baylor College of Dentistry, as a 2003 Regents Professor during a meeting in
College Station, Texas. Bellinger was one of nine selected this year from among 7,900 full-time A&M System faculty members.
The prestigious award is presented annually to professors who provide exemplary service to their institutions, the people of Texas, and the national and international communities. Regent Professors Award
recipients are designated as Regents Professors for the duration of their service or employment within the A&M System. They receive $9,000
over three consecutive years, a medallion bearing the A&M System seal and a commemorative certificate.
Bellinger received his doctoral degree in physiology from the University of California at Davis in 1974 and completed postdoctoral training in
neuroendocrinology at the State University of New York - Buffalo in 1976. Following his postdoctoral work, Bellinger came to Baylor College of Dentistry in 1976.
During the last 25 years, Bellinger has had a highly productive research program. His research has focused primarily on the neuroendocrine
control of feeding behavior. Bellinger has performed extensive studies on the role of hormones – in particular corticosterone and insulin – on the
control of feeding behavior. He also has studied the role of the liver in the control of feeding behavior and is internationally known for this work.
For many years, Bellinger has collaborated with Dr. Dorothy Gietzen at the University of California at Davis, where they have investigated the role
of imbalanced amino acid diets on ingestive behavior. These National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded studies have been published in journals such as the American Journal of Physiology and Journal of Nutrition.
Dr. Bellinger and his colleague Dr. Lee Bernardis at the State University of New York at Buffalo are the world's leading experts in defining the mechanisms that a small brain area called the dorsomedial hypothalamic
nucleus uses to regulate ingestive behavior and body weight. Most recently, Bellinger has used his knowledge of feeding behavior to obtain NIH funding to develop an animal model to study temporomandibular
joint pain.
Bellinger has been principal investigator or co-investigator on 18 extramural NIH or company grants and many in-house grants. These have led to 126 peer reviewed research publications and 149 abstracts. In
addition to his role as professor, Bellinger serves as director of research resources in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at BCD and as chair
of the appointment, promotion and tenure review committee for the A&M System Health Science Center.
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