Understanding Our Body Clocks and How Genes Are Used
Mechanisms of circadian clock and codon usage biases
This research explores how our internal body clocks work and how our cells read genetic instructions, which could help us understand many health conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11061314 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies have natural internal clocks, called circadian clocks, that guide many daily processes like sleep, hunger, and energy levels. This project aims to uncover the tiny molecular and chemical details of how these clocks keep time and influence our bodies. We also want to understand how cells use genetic information, specifically how they choose which genetic 'words' to use when building proteins. By studying these fundamental processes in different living systems, we hope to gain insights into how they impact our overall health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational laboratory research does not directly involve patient participation, but its findings could eventually benefit anyone affected by conditions related to circadian rhythms or gene function.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical interventions or direct treatment options would not find direct benefit from participating in this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of how our bodies function at a basic level, potentially informing future treatments for sleep disorders, metabolic conditions, and other diseases linked to our internal clocks or gene expression.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies from this research group have already made important contributions to understanding how eukaryotic circadian clocks work, suggesting a strong foundation for this ongoing work.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Yi — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Liu, Yi
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 below.