Circadian rhythms of glucocorticoid and glutamatergic interactions in mood stability (C05)

• Subject Area: Molecular and Cellular Neurology and Neuropathology ; Biological Psychiatry ; Biological Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience ; Human Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 541063275

Physiopsychologist Jonas Obleser and chronobiologist Henrik Oster propose to investigate the interaction of circadian clocks and glutamatergic signaling in mood regulation combining human and mouse studies. In particular, they will analyze how time-of-day and a glutamatergic short-acting antidepressant interact in regulating mood and excitation/inhibition balance in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in humans and mice. In mice, manipulation of tissue clock and local glucocorticoid (GC) signaling will be combined with transcriptome time series analyses to decipher the underlying molecular mechanisms of mood regulation in the PFC. Finally, timed manipulation of GC action will be tested as potential means to optimize antidepressant responses and inform future chronotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of major depression in human patients.

• 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. Jonas Obleser; Professor Dr. Henrik Oster, Ph.D.