Affiliated with McGill University and the Montreal West Island IUHSSC
Circadian oscillation of clock genes in humans and resetting by environment cues The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCNs) of the hypothalamus, a specialized region in the brain, generates many circadian rhythms and play the role of master biological clock. This central clock is connected to other regions of the brain and other parts of the body. Certain … Read more
Diane Boivin, MD, PhD, director of the Centre for Study and Treatment of Circadian Rhythms, and her team offer you information on circadian rhythms and the disorders associated with them. What are circadian rhythms? A little history Some of the first published evidence for circadian rhythms came from studies in plants. In 1729, the scientist … Read more
Circadian A term used to signify a relationship to the rhythmic reoccurrence of biological events approximately every 24 hours. It comes from Latin circa and dies, meaning “about” and “a day”. Circadian clock Biological structure that is responsible for endogenously (internally) generating observable circadian rhythms. Also referred to as: circadian pacemaker, biological clock, circadian oscillator. … Read more
Diane B. Boivin, MD, PhD Founder/Director/Principal Investigator, Centre for Study and Treatment of Circadian Rhythms, Douglas Mental Health University Institute Professor, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University. Areas of Expertise: Human circadian rhythms, sleep-wake cycle, night shift work and rotating shiftwork, fatigue management and jet lag. View Diane B. Boivin's detailed profile Philippe Boudreau, PhD Postdoctoral … Read more
Hypothesis Every study begins with a research question to be answered. The question may have come following analysis of data from a previous experiment. It may similarly arise from the work of other investigators, as published in peer-reviewed journals. Based on the current body of knowledge, we can propose an explanation or predict an outcome … Read more
Diane B. Boivin, MD, PhD founded the Centre for Study and Treatment of Circadian Rhythms at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in 1997, thanks to the support from the Douglas Hospital Foundation and a grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). Investigators at the Centre conduct multidisciplinary research studies on human circadian rhythms … Read more