ERC Consolidator Grant · 2022
The early ticking of the central circadian pacemaker: when and how
The 24-h (circadian) timing system develops during the perinatal period and rules our physiology later in life. It has the essential task of anticipating daily recurring changes in the environment (day/night) to find the best time for each molecular and cellular process. It is organised hierarchically, with a master pacemaker in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which is able to perceive environmental light and tell the body what time is it. Our modern 24/7 lifestyle favours a disruptive environment for the circadian system, which is especially negative during pregnancy. We have found, in mice and pre-term infants, that when mothers are exposed to glucocorticoids (GCs) at the…
From the public funding record at EU CORDIS. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.