Dynamic chronotype and metabolic changes during puberty and their role in disease development (B03)

• Subject Area: Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolism ; Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 541063275

Clinical endocrinologist Peter Kühnen and chronobiologist Henrik Oster will study the interaction between chronotype regulation, sexual development and metabolic homeostasis during adolescence – a critical developmental period for the establishment of metabolic set points during adulthood. They will study the interaction of puberty development, internal clock regulation, and metabolic homeostasis as well as associated changes in endocrine rhythms during adolescence in mice and humans, including defined cohorts of children with early and late puberty onset. In addition, they will develop a chronomedical intervention to realign metabolic rhythms using counseling and training approaches (screen time, use of screen filters, etc.) in obese adolescents with and without social jetlag.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 418: Foundations of Circadian Medicine
• Applicant Institution: shared FU Berlin and HU Berlin through:; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Peter Kühnen; Professor Dr. Henrik Oster, Ph.D.