Understanding Our Internal Body Clocks
Official title: Structures and mechanisms of circadian rhythms from cyanobacteria to humans
Funded at University of California Santa Cruz · NIH-11371527 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to uncover the basic workings of our body's internal clocks, called circadian rhythms, which help synchronize our daily functions with the 24-hour day.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Cruz NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Cruz, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $149,133 |
| NIH project number | 3R35GM141849-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371527 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients, but it is relevant to anyone interested in the basic biology of human health and disease, especially conditions linked to sleep or daily body cycles.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical intervention would not find direct benefit from participating in this basic science research.
What this research studies
Our bodies have natural internal clocks that tell us when to sleep, wake, and perform other daily activities, but we don't fully understand how they keep time or respond to light and other cues. This project uses advanced techniques to look closely at the tiny parts of cells and proteins that make up these clocks. By studying how these parts fit together and change, we hope to learn the fundamental rules that govern our daily rhythms. This work builds on previous findings that showed surprising similarities in how clocks work, even in very different living things.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of how our bodies keep time, potentially helping us address health issues related to sleep, metabolism, and other conditions affected by disrupted circadian rhythms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies, including those by this research team, have successfully identified common ways that different biological clocks assemble and function, providing a strong foundation for this continued work.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Partch, Carrie L — University of California Santa Cruz
- Study coordinator: Partch, Carrie L
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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.