Nov. 17, 2022 — After making the trailblazing discovery that circadian rhythms in the skeletal muscle system run independently of the brain and that the genes controlling the body’s “biological clock” also played a role in muscle function, Karyn Esser, Ph.D., completely changed the trajectory of her research.

Esser, chair of the department of physiology and aging, has since devoted her lab’s work to understanding how circadian rhythms regulate muscle structure and function. Thanks to her seminal studies, circadian rhythm research in muscle has grown exponentially over the last 20 years and expanded beyond basic science discoveries and into the realm of clinical interventions for muscle conditions associated with chronic disease and aging.

Earlier this year, Esser received the 2022 College of Medicine Basic Science Research Award for her contributions to the field of physiology. The award is given for research that contributes to the understanding of the fundamental underlying principles of biology and medicine.

Learn more about Esser and her lab’s research in the video below: