How Our Body Clocks Adjust to Daily Life and Affect Health

Potential Role of Compass H3K4 Methyltransferase Complexes in Environmental Circadian-Alignment

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · NIH-11142603

This research explores how our internal body clocks, or circadian rhythms, adapt to daily environmental changes and how this process affects our overall health.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorMOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (nih funded)
Locations1 site (ATLANTA, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11142603 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Our daily routines, like sleep-wake cycles, are guided by internal body clocks that can be disrupted by things like shift work or jet lag. This disruption is linked to serious health issues, including heart disease, metabolic disorders, and certain cancers. This project looks at specific protein complexes, called COMPASS, that help control how our genes turn on and off. We believe these complexes are key to how our body clocks stay in sync with our environment, potentially influencing our risk for diseases like breast cancer and obesity.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to understand the basic biological processes relevant to anyone affected by circadian disruption, including those with metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, or certain cancers.

Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical interventions will not find direct benefit from this basic science project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us understand the root causes of health problems linked to disrupted body clocks, potentially leading to new ways to prevent or treat these conditions.

How similar studies have performed: While the link between circadian disruption and disease is known, this specific focus on COMPASS complexes and their role in environmental-circadian alignment is a novel area of exploration.

Where this research is happening

ATLANTA, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Breast Cancer, Cancer Causing Agents, Cancers, Cardiovascular Diseases

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.