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Circadian medicine is the study of how the body’s internal clock—the circadian rhythm—regulates physiological processes, health, and disease. By understanding these rhythms, we can improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, and develop interventions that align with the body’s natural timing.

Many biological processes, from metabolism to immune function, follow daily rhythms. Disruption of these rhythms, due to shift work, jetlag, or disease, can contribute to metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer, sleep disturbances, and mental health conditions. Understanding circadian timing helps us predict and prevent disease more effectively.

TRR 418 investigates how circadian rhythms influence human health and disease. Our research spans molecular mechanisms, clinical studies, and population-level analyses, organized into three main areas: circadian immunology, circadian energy metabolism, and circadian neuropsychiatry. Projects aim to detect, target, and exploit circadian rhythms for precision medicine.

Our interdisciplinary consortium brings together PhD students, postdocs, clinicians, bioinformaticians, and senior scientists from multiple institutions, including Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, University of Lübeck, LMU Munich, TU Munich, DifE Potsdam, and the University of Geneva.

We post all open positions on our website. You are also welcome to submit unsolicited applications, either directly to project leaders or via our contact page, especially if a specific project aligns with your interests.

Early-career researchers benefit from mentoring, structured training programs, summer schools, retreats, workshops, and networking opportunities. The integrated research training group (iRTG) provides a coordinated curriculum, financial support for research visits, and exposure to both basic and clinical research.

We promote an inclusive environment where every voice is valued. Transparent recruitment, family-friendly policies, flexible work models, and mentorship ensure that researchers of all backgrounds can thrive. Gender balance, diversity, and inclusion are central to our culture.

All publications are available on our website under “Publications.” Our service projects provide standardized cohorts, molecular biomarker assays, multi-omics datasets, and bioinformatics tools to support research across the consortium.

We host summer schools, retreats, workshops, and public lectures. Researchers, students, and collaborators can register for events via our website. News and upcoming events are listed under the “News & Events” section.

Yes! We welcome journalists, patient advocates, students, and interested members of the public. You can contact us for information, collaborations, outreach opportunities, or to learn more about circadian medicine.

TRR 418 is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) as part of the Collaborative Research Centre/Transregio programme, supporting long-term, interdisciplinary research networks.