The earth’s daily rotation causes profound, yet
repetitive, changes to environmental conditions. In response,
species from prokaryotes to humans have evolved circadian clocks to
drive anticipatory daily rhythms in biological processes ranging in
magnitude from DNA replication to sleep-wake cycles. However,
cellular, tissue and systemic circadian rhythms exhibit a
generalised decay during the ageing process that may contribute to
the development of aged-related diseases and onset of frailty. In
the Circadian Rhythms and Ageing laboratory , we aim to determine
why this detrimental decay occurs and ask how we can correct or
exploit these changes. To do so, we apply cutting edge in vivo, in
vitro and in silico tools to provide unique, clinically relevant
perspectives on the ageing of the bodies circadian system. Age is
cancers primary risk factor and a significant determinant of how
this often-devastating disease presents and progresses.
Concurrently, circadian inputs from the body are known to drive
daily rhythms in tumour microenvironment composition, metastasis




seeding and treatment response, whilst disruption of physiological
circadian rhythms is itself an established tumour promoter.
However, whether the ageing of the bodies circadian system reshapes
the initiation and development of cancer remains unknown. To
address this question, the selected candidates will develop a
European Research Council-funded project that asks how ageing of
the circadian system impinges upon the biology of cancer. In
particular, this project will look to address three key questions:
Does ageing of the body and its circadian rhythm system change the
tumourigenic potency of circadian rhythm disruption? Are the
circadian rhythms of an established tumour altered by ageing of the
host and its circadian system? If cancer circadian biology is
rewired by ageing, can we identify where this change originates
from? To tackle these questions, the selected candidates will
combine cutting-edge models

📌 First Stage (Cataluña)
🏢 VHIR
📍 Cataluña