PhysioTimeBridge

We have identified an emerging need at EU level for training of new generation of the top-level researchers and researchers-clinicians, who will be ready to implement creative solutions by merging chronobiology, integrative molecular physiology and metabolic disease research fields. Our goal is to build a sustained network of the leading researchers in the fields of integrative physiology, metabolism, lifestyle medicine. The setbacks in embracing the circadian biology concepts by different fields can be largely explained by the complexity of molecular clock mechanisms, rapidly developing methodology that often requires specific equipment and expertise, large dataset analyses and elaborate computational approaches to integrate cross-field data. Notably, there are only a few dedicated training programs in university curricula focusing on chronobiology and no EU-training networks for graduate students that would be devoted to circadian physiology. The PhysioTimeBridge training network responds to this need for basic researchers and clinicians with intersectoral and interdisciplinary expertise, who are fully trained to incorporate the time dimension in all the aspects of fundamental and clinical investigations in different fields of human physiology and specifically in translational studies of metabolic diseases. Our ambition is to introduce the knowledge of human circadian physiology to patient sample collection and analyses, and to promote preparation of the specialists ready to implement innovative personalized lifestyle medicine. Importantly, given the omnipresence of the circadian clock, the skills and knowledge acquired by trainees through PhysioTimeBridge network will be transferable to other fields such as immunity, cancer, aging etc. The complementary expertise of partners in the PhysioTimeBridge consortium in chronobiology, physiology of different organs and in variety of model systems will allow us to achieve the comprehensive training of early-stage researchers from cellular to animal models and translational studies from genetic mouse models to humans. We aim to design 10 collaborative PhD projects that will combine state-of-the art methodology in circadian physiology and lifestyle medicine. These will be intertwined with lecture courses and practical workshops on research and transferable skills provided by academic, clinical and industry background that will be engaged in the training network. The PhysioTimeBridge training program will embrace the three aims: 1) To TRAIN a new generation of PhD and MD-PhD through completion of research projects, secondments within the network, organization of lecture and practical school programs as well as local and network-wide trainings. 2) To LEARN by completing individual projects addressing research challenges of integrative chronobiology and physiology field: (i) to discover molecular mechanisms for metabolic chrono-alignment; (ii) to understand the molecular mechanisms of inter-organ circadian communication; (iii) to develop the basis for general application of lifestyle medicine. 3) To CREATE sustainable network of researchers that will embody a new school of the integrative physiology-chronobiology experts who are ready to challenges of academia, clinical and private sector. Altogether, the PhysioTimeBridge network has an ambition to place Europe at the forefront of research on chronobiology and lifestyle medicine contributing to its industrial leadership on health and shifting minds among the medical community, the patients and the policy makers.