Dr. Marjolein Heddes

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor of the nuclear receptor superfamily that mediates the effects of glucocorticoid hormones on gene expression and metabolism. In metabolic tissues such as the liver, circulating glucocorticoids exhibit strong circadian oscillations, suggesting that GR activity is tightly linked to daily rhythms in physiology.

This project aims to investigate how rhythmic glucocorticoid signalling through GR regulates circadian gene expression programs in the liver. In particular, we seek to identify GR-dependent target genes and pathways that are controlled in a time-of-day–specific manner and to understand how disruption of this rhythmic regulation contributes to metabolic dysfunction.

Students on the project:

Lara-Leonie Fetzer (PhD)