Since cloning the melanocortin receptors together with Dr Roger Cone in the early 1990s, my research focus has been to understand mechanism of action and physiological functions for endogenous melanocortin hormones and receptors. A particular focus is on understanding roles in the regulation of body weight, stress and metabolism. Of note, is our recent development of a mouse model that specifically lacks both desacetyl-α-melanocyte stimulating hormone and α-melanocyte stimulating hormone, to advance understanding specific functions for each hormone. This research is multidisciplinary and involves mouse genetics, transgenic mice, physiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, GPCR signalling, endocrinology and neuroscience.