Lindsey Schier is awarded 2025 Epstein Award
Dr. Schier received the 2025 Alan Epstein Award from the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior for her research on how the brain rapidly senses carbohydrates in the foods and fluids we consume. The Schier lab recently discovered that taste cells on the tongue can detect the nutritional value of sugars, not just their sweetness. Similar to the gut, taste cells use digestive enzymes to break down complex carbohydrates into simpler sugars. These sugars, particularly glucose, then activate nearby metabolic sensors within the taste cells, which, in turn, signals to the brain. Together, these mechanisms allow the brain to rapidly assess the energy content of food and shape how appealing it tastes long before the nutrients are fully metabolized by the body. This award honors an individual for a specific research discovery that has advanced the understanding of ingestive behavior.