Lux biotechnology has joined forces with experts from across Europe to investigate the disturbance of our internal biological clock
The project, named EUclock involves 34 chronobiologists (scientists who research biological clocks) from 29 institutions in 11 countries and has a budget of over 16 million euros.
It will focus on entrainment; the synchronisation of an organism's internal clock to the external day.
This is key to the correct working of the clock and problems in entrainment, as a consequence of age-related changes or shift work, for example, can significantly impact the health of an organism.
As 20% of the working population in Europe is exposed to shift work, this project is highly relevant to the pressures of today's society.
Lux is one of five companies involved with the consortium.
Lux will provide the consortium with the novel fluorescent and luminescent research tools, eg, novel fluorescent proteins, vectors and markers, and with advice on improving and optimising bioimaging systems.
Artin Moussavi, Lux's CEO said: "We are pleased to be invited to contribute to the research of circadian rhythms, or 24 hour biological clocks.
"Circadian rhythms exist in almost all living things.
"We know that regular sleep is important for our performance and to maintain a healthy state of mind.
"Like sleep, many other vital physiological functions are regulated on a 24hr basis.
"To my knowledge, this programme of research represents the first coordinated and international effort to understand why the disturbance of our circadian rhythm is often associated with a range of mental and physical disorders".
EUclock will run over four years from January 2006 and is co-ordinated by the Ludwig-Maximillians-University in Munich
