The Molecular Circadian Clock: Understanding Its Role in Homeostasis

Satchidananda (Satchin) Panda, PhD, is a professor at the Salk Institute in California, where his research focuses on the circadian regulation of behavior, physiology and metabolism in model organisms and in humans. Panda discovered a blue-light sensing cell type in the retina that entrains our master circadian clock, affects mood and regulates the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. His research suggests that participating in time-restricted feeding can prevent and reverse metabolic diseases. Panda’s lab is carrying out a smartphone-based study to assess the extent of circadian disruption among adults.

Karen Gamble, PhD, is the F. Cleveland Kinney Endowed Chair in Geriatric Psychiatry and vice chair of Basic Research in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology in the Heersink School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her research program, funded largely by NIH, includes work on how circadian rhythms in physiology, behavior, metabolism and sleep-wake cycles are affected by specific brain circuits; nutrition (high salt/fat diets, meal timing); disease (obesity, neurodegeneration, addiction); and the environment. Translational projects address the impact of environmental circadian misalignment (e.g., shift work) or addiction (e.g., smoking) on circadian rhythmicity of behavior and physiology.

Karyn Esser, PhD, is a professor and chair of the Department of Physiology and Aging at the University of Florida College of Medicine. Her research focuses on defining the transcriptional networks and downstream mechanisms that link the molecular clock with proper muscle function and determining the potential for time-of-day lifestyle interventions to enhance molecular clock function and improve muscle weakness associated with aging and chronic diseases.