Circadian clock signals and daily rhythms in brain and body
Official title: Circadian output mechanisms in nocturnal and diurnal animals
Funded at Texas A&m University · NIH-11369619 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant study looks at how the brain’s clock signals shape daily behaviors and bodily rhythms, with potential relevance to mood and heart health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $378,384 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM151020-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369619 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly in this grant since it is an animal- and molecular-studies project, but insights may inform future human health approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Direct participation by patients is not part of this grant’s design.
What this research studies
Researchers at Texas A&M University will explore how the brain’s circadian clock communicates with other brain cells to produce daily behaviors. They will examine the transfer of circadian information from the master clock in the brain to downstream neurons, using molecular, circuit, and behavioral analyses. The work includes targeted genetic edits to clock-related genes in animal models to see how these changes affect rhythms and behavior. Findings could clarify how disruption of circadian signals contributes to mood disorders and cardiovascular issues. The project spans five years and aims to map how time-of-day signals influence biology from cells to whole organisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding of circadian signaling could lead to new strategies for treating mood and cardiovascular disorders linked to disrupted daily rhythms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that circadian signals influence behavior and physiology; this project seeks to extend that knowledge with multi-level analyses and genetic tools.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jones, Jeffrey R — Texas A&m University
- Study coordinator: Jones, Jeffrey R
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.