Gilbert's research is aimed at improving animal production traits and developing strategies to reduce the prevalence of obesity. She studies interactions of genetic background, diet, hormone, and neuropeptide, and development effects on regulation of appetite, adipose tissue physiology, and insulin resistance. The overarching objective of her research is to elucidate molecular mechanisms and cellular signaling pathways associated with fat development in different species, with an emphasis on the brain-fat axis (how the brain and adipose communicate to regulate whole-body energy balance) in chickens. Follow Virginia Tech