海角社区

Dr. Nicolas Cermakian is a聽Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at 海角社区 and the Director of the Laboratory of Molecular Chronobiology at the Douglas Research Centre. His research is about 24h rhythms present in most physiological processes, even in constant conditions (e.g. hormones, metabolism, cognition). These daily rhythms are called circadian rhythms, and they are generated by clocks located in most organs and cells throughout the body. The research in Dr. Cermakian's lab aims at deciphering how these clocks work, and more specifically, to find an answer to three questions: What are the mechanisms or gears of these biological clocks? How can these clocks control physiology? How can dysfunction of these clocks lead to diseases?

1. The identification and study of clock components: Using a combination of molecular, cellular and behavioural approaches, we study the molecular bases of circadian clocks, and their links to environmental light and behaviour.

2. The circadian control of the immune response and infectious diseases: In collaboration with Dr. Nathalie Labrecque (Universit茅 de Montr茅al), we found that the response of T cells to vaccination varies according to time of day. In collaboration with Dr. Martin Olivier (海角社区), we study the impact of immune rhythms on parasitic infections, in particular Leishmania parasites.

3. Circadian disruption and schizophrenia: In collaboration with Dr. Lalit Srivastava (Douglas Research Centre, 海角社区), we use mouse models to study the cause of this circadian rhythm disruption in patients with schizophrenia, and we also test whether these disrupted rhythms worsen schizophrenia symptoms, or act as a risk factor for the disease.

4. The regulation of human circadian clocks: Together with Dr. Diane Boivin (Douglas Research Centre, 海角社区), we study human molecular, metabolic and immune circadian rhythms in the context of night shift work, and possible light and pharmacological treatments to adjust circadian rhythms.