The Team “Pathophysiology of Circadian Rhythms" is also part of the Nuclear Medecine Center (Lyon Hospitals) located close to Unit U846. Our research activities focus on the pathology and genetics of circadian rhythms, sleep and ageing.

Current Research Projects :

Genetic disorders of the sleep-wake rhythm –Investigations of patients presenting disorders of the Sleep-wake cycle(advanced sleep phase syndrome, delayed sleep phase syndrome) by assay of hormonal profiles, temperature and activity-rest cycles and by exploring possible mutations or polymorphisms of clock genes. The project also involves Francine Claustrat, Philippe Latour (UF of neurogenetics) and sleep medecine clinicians Dr Hélène Bastuji (INSERM U879) et Dr Patricia Franco (INSERM U628):


Treatment of disorders of the sleep-wake rhythm using light therapy (in collaboration with Dr Patrick Lemoine and Essilor), and/or with melatonin, (Lundbeck Laboratories)

Circadian system and aging
Model of folic acid deficiency
Ph.D. of Isabelle Rouvet (2006)
Projet FOLVICAN (folate, ageing, cancer, clock gene expression and entrainment in folate deficient animals) in collaboration with Francis Lévi (Villejuif INSERM, U776), Paul Pévet (CNRS, Strasbourg), Michèle Montange (INSERM, U842)
Model of the rat WAG Rij in which the female presents a marked longevity (work by Francine Claustrat in collaboration with Ghislaine Geelen, laboratory of Physiology of the Rockefeller Department of Medicine).

Study of melatonin secretion in humans (melatonin, LCR and tumours of the pineal region (Ph.D of Jose LEston) to assess whether the melatonin secretion rhythm constitutes a criterion for the diagnosis of pineal tumours (collaboration with Michèle Montange INSERM U842)