Suraj Unniappan, University of Saskatchewan

Research

Beta Cells Blood Glucose Body Weight Food Intake Gastrointestinal Tract Gluconeogenesis Insulin Liver

Latest papers

Positive actions of fibroblast growth factor 21 on female zebrafish reproductive axis.
Theriogenology · 2026 · senior author
Chronic exposure to diisopentyl phthalate impairs behavior, metabolism, and reproductive processes in adult female zebrafish (Danio rerio).
Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987) · 2026 · senior author
The growth of developing oocytes and hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary functions in goldfish under absolute food deprivation.
American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology · 2026

All 96 publications

Latest funding

Nucleobindins and Lipid Metabolism in the Liver
CIHR · 2022 · Supervisor
$135,000
Hormonal Regulation of Feeding, Metabolism, Growth and Reproduction in Fish
NSERC · 2022 · Principal investigator
$195,000
Canadian Bone Strength Development in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Study (CanBSDS)
CIHR · 2022 · Co-investigator
$1,352,140

All 9 grants and awards

96 publications.

01

Positive actions of fibroblast growth factor 21 on female zebrafish reproductive axis.

Uju CN, Unniappan S

Theriogenology2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.118106 PMID: 42541973

02

Chronic exposure to diisopentyl phthalate impairs behavior, metabolism, and reproductive processes in adult female zebrafish (Danio rerio).

de Arruda Leite B, Rachamalla M, Oliveira Souza MC, Palma de Oliveira D, Niyogi S, Unniappan S

Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128511 PMID: 42264125

03

The growth of developing oocytes and hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary functions in goldfish under absolute food deprivation.

Mirjalili V, Kazori N, Alavi SMH, Golshan M, Hatef A, Socha M, Milla S, Unniappan S, Linhart O

American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology2026

DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00034.2026 PMID: 42461721

04

Sexual identity of Akh neurons shapes Nucb1-dependent metabolic and reproductive plasticity.

Pujari N, Chevrier K, Turriff N, Al-Tahir Y, Shahi D, Gorjan AS, Li ASO, Jois SV, Donà E, Ferrari M, Unniappan S, Leung AKW

iScience2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.116097 PMID: 42291196

05

Direct adverse effects of fipronil sulfone, diisopentyl phthalate and disperse red 60 on zebrafish hepatocytes.

Leite BA, de Oliveira DP, Unniappan S

Toxicology reports2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2026.102218 PMID: 41727407

06

Nucleobindin-derived peptides and stress regulation in vertebrates.

Sethi P, Nasri A, Unniappan S

General and comparative endocrinology2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114960 PMID: 42285421

07

Brain derived neurotrophic factor promotes oocyte maturation through the TrkB-MAPK-PI3K pathway in zebrafish.

Uju C, Unniappan S

Molecular and cellular endocrinology2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2025.112703 PMID: 41248839

08

Periovulatory neurohormone dynamics reveal an association between secretoneurin and GnRH across the mouse estrous cycle.

Lu C, Peng D, Smith KB, Uju C, Unniappan S, Duarte-Guterman P, Ismail N, Trudeau VL

Frontiers in endocrinology2025

DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1708570 PMID: 41659333

09

Modulation of the effects of a cholesterol-supplemented high-fat diet by aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) activation and/or tryptophan reduction in male mice.

Bathina A, Hakanen J, Raasmaja A, Lindén J, Mairinoja L, Unniappan S, Pettersson L, Pohjanvirta R

Toxicology reports2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2025.102083 PMID: 40687891

10

Regulation of feeding and metabolism by fat mass and obesity-associated protein in zebrafish.

Karimzadeh K, Uju C, Zahmatkesh A, Unniappan S

Scientific reports2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-24733-x PMID: 41266437

Nucleobindins and Lipid Metabolism in the Liver

SupervisorCIHR2022CIHR Fellowship

Principal investigators: Mustapha, Umar Farouk

Keywords: Hepatocytes; Lipid; Liver; Nesfatin-1; Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Nucleobindins

$135,000

Hormonal Regulation of Feeding, Metabolism, Growth and Reproduction in Fish

Principal investigatorNSERC2022Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Unniappan, Suraj

$195,000

Canadian Bone Strength Development in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Study (CanBSDS)

Co-investigatorCIHR2022Project Grant

Principal investigators: Kontulainen, Saija; Gabel, Leigh E; Ho, Josephine; Lam, Carol K; Nour, Munier A; Robinson, Marie-Eve; Ward, Leanne M; Wong, Andy Kin On

Keywords: Body Composition; Bone; Children And Youth; Dxa; Growth And Development; Hr-Pqct; Longitudinal; Pediatric Endocrinology; Physical Activity; Type 1 Diabetes

$1,352,140

Is NUCB1/Nesfatin-1-Like Peptide critical for growth and metabolism?

SupervisorCIHR2019CIHR Fellowship

Principal investigators: Vélez, Emilio J

Keywords: Comparative Physiology; Endocrinology; Growth; Growth Disorders; Growth Factors; Growth Hormone; Metabolism; Nesfatin-1; Nesfatin-1-Like Peptide; Nucleobindin-Encoded Peptides

$45,000

Hormonal Integration of Feeding, Metabolism, Growth and Reproduction in Fish

Principal investigatorNSERC2017Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Unniappan, Suraj

$160,000

Nesfatin-1 Regulation of Glucose and Energy Homesotasis

Nominated PICIHR2013Operating Grant

Principal investigators: Unniappan, Suraj

Keywords: Beta Cells; Blood Glucose; Body Weight; Food Intake; Gastrointestinal Tract; Gluconeogenesis; Insulin; Liver; Metabolism; Pancreatic Islets

$602,264

Nesfatin-1 Integration of Reproduction and Metabolism

SupervisorCIHR2013CIHR Fellowship

Principal investigators: Hatef, Azadeh

Keywords: Hormones; Metabolism; Physiology; Reproduction

$135,000

""Hormonal Regulation and Integration of Feeding, Metabolism and Reproduction in Fish""

Principal investigatorNSERC2012Discovery Grants Program - Accelerator Supplements

Principal investigators: Unniappan, Suraj

$120,000

""Hormonal Regulation and Integration of Feeding, Metabolism and Reproduction in Fish""

Principal investigatorNSERC2012Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Unniappan, Suraj

$235,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Veterinary Biomedical Sciences
Interdisciplinary Studies
Psychology
Other

Co-authors at University of Saskatchewan, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Nafissa Ismail

Interdisciplinary Studies

1 shared papers, latest 2025

Paula Duarte Guterman

Psychology

1 shared papers, latest 2025

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2022

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Beta Cells Dear Professor Unniappan, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Positive actions of fibroblast growth factor 21 on female zebrafish reproductive axis." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Hormonal Regulation of Feeding, Metabolism, Growth and Reproduction in Fish" (2022), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

Suraj Unniappan

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Positive actions of fibroblast growth factor 21 on female zebrafish reproductive axis.

Chronic exposure to diisopentyl phthalate impairs behavior, metabolism, and reproductive processes in adult female zebrafish (Danio rerio).

The growth of developing oocytes and hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary functions in goldfish under absolute food deprivation.

Sexual identity of Akh neurons shapes Nucb1-dependent metabolic and reproductive plasticity.

Direct adverse effects of fipronil sulfone, diisopentyl phthalate and disperse red 60 on zebrafish hepatocytes.

Nucleobindin-derived peptides and stress regulation in vertebrates.

Brain derived neurotrophic factor promotes oocyte maturation through the TrkB-MAPK-PI3K pathway in zebrafish.

Periovulatory neurohormone dynamics reveal an association between secretoneurin and GnRH across the mouse estrous cycle.

Modulation of the effects of a cholesterol-supplemented high-fat diet by aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) activation and/or tryptophan reduction in male mice.

Regulation of feeding and metabolism by fat mass and obesity-associated protein in zebrafish.

Nucleobindins and Lipid Metabolism in the Liver

Hormonal Regulation of Feeding, Metabolism, Growth and Reproduction in Fish

Canadian Bone Strength Development in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Study (CanBSDS)

Is NUCB1/Nesfatin-1-Like Peptide critical for growth and metabolism?

Hormonal Integration of Feeding, Metabolism, Growth and Reproduction in Fish

Nesfatin-1 Regulation of Glucose and Energy Homesotasis

Nesfatin-1 Integration of Reproduction and Metabolism

""Hormonal Regulation and Integration of Feeding, Metabolism and Reproduction in Fish""

""Hormonal Regulation and Integration of Feeding, Metabolism and Reproduction in Fish""

Frequent collaborators

Baljit Singh

Nafissa Ismail

Paula Duarte Guterman