Graduate Institute of Metabolism and Obesity Sciences’ Self-Developed MOOC

New Perspectives on Metabolism: From Gut to Brain

Selected as One of the Top 250 Most Popular Online Courses Worldwide in 2026

The internationally renowned online course ranking platform Class Central has recently announced its “The 250 Most Popular Online Courses (2026 Edition)” list. The self-developed MOOC New Perspectives on Metabolism: From Gut to Brain, offered by the College of Nutrition at Taipei Medical University, has been successfully selected. Standing alongside courses from leading universities around the world, this recognition highlights TMU’s teaching excellence and growing international influence in the fields of nutrition and health education.

Class Central is a globally recognized search and review platform for online courses. It continuously tracks course performance across major MOOC platforms and compiles its annual rankings based on multiple indicators, including course viewership, enrollment numbers, learner feedback, and overall impact. The list is widely regarded for its credibility and reference value. The 2026 edition focuses on the most popular online courses worldwide, with a highly competitive and rigorous selection process.

The course is led by Professor Hui-Yu Huang, Director of the Graduate Institute of Metabolism and Obesity Sciences, together with faculty members Professor Yang-Ching Chen, Assistant Professor Ya-Ting Lin, and Assistant Professor Ching-Wen Chang. It is offered on the FutureLearn platform.

Image: Professor Hui-Yu Huang, Graduate Director of the Institute of Metabolism and Obesity Sciences (left), and Professor Yang-Ching Chen (right).

Centering on emerging perspectives in metabolism, the course moves beyond the traditional framework that focuses solely on energy production and utilization. It guides learners to understand metabolism as a dynamic regulatory network intricately interconnected with immunity, inflammation, aging, and the nervous system. The curriculum explores in depth the role of the gut microbiota as a key regulator of host metabolism, illustrating how microbial metabolites influence immune responses, central nervous system function, and the development of obesity, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases.

From a metabolic perspective, the course further examines the role of gut microbiota in aging and disease risk, explaining the associations between microbial dysbiosis, chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and metabolic imbalance. It also introduces nutrition-based intervention strategies—including dietary modifications and probiotics—to promote healthy aging. In response to the widespread issue of sleep deprivation in modern society, the course discusses how circadian rhythm disruption affects the diurnal patterns of gut microbiota, potentially leading to insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities, and provides evidence-based lifestyle recommendations.

In advanced modules, the course analyzes the critical role of central insulin resistance in obesity and metabolic disorders, as well as how the brain regulates whole-body metabolism through neural mechanisms. It also highlights the liver as a central metabolic organ, exploring the metabolic mechanisms underlying non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver cirrhosis. Integrating the latest research findings, the course introduces practical applications of personalized nutrition strategies to support liver health.

Image: Assistant Professor Ya-Ting Lin (left) and Assistant Professor Ching-Wen Chang (right), Institute of Metabolism and Obesity Sciences.

The inclusion of this course in “The 250 Most Popular Online Courses (2026 Edition)” represents not only recognition of the dedication and excellence of the teaching team, but also a testament to TMU’s long-term commitment to digital learning and open education. Moving forward, TMU will continue to integrate research strength with innovation in digital pedagogy, developing more internationally oriented and socially impactful online courses, and further connecting Taiwan’s expertise in health and nutrition education with the global community.

Image: Course introduction page of New Perspectives on Metabolism: From Gut to Brain on the FutureLearn platform.

(By Office of Information Technology, TMU: Ms. Alice Hsu)

* This report was translated from the “TMU Today” news release published in February, with the author’s consent for:
-  Translation
-  Publication on the College’s official website in both Mandarin and English versions