Charna Dibner

Dr. Charna Dibner is an Associate Professor and Head of the Laboratory of Circadian Endocrinology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva. Her research bridges molecular circadian oscillators with metabolic diseases and cancer, utilizing genetic rodent models and human primary cell methodologies. Key collaborations span Departments of Surgery, Medicine, Oncology, and Pathology at Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG).

• Education:
  • PhD in Medical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Technion Israel Institute of Technology (2003)
  • MSc in Pharmacology, Technion Israel Institute of Technology
  • BSc in Biology, cum laude, Technion Israel Institute of Technology

Research Focus: The Dibner lab investigates cell-specific circadian clocks in pancreatic α- and β-cells, their role in islet function and regeneration, and clock dis-regulation in diabetes and cancer. Her team pioneers real-time bioluminescence recording and chrono-immunometabolism approaches in human tissues.

Publications Trends: Recent works emphasize circadian lipid metabolism, chronotherapeutics, and clock-immune interactions in cancer immunotherapy. Collaborative studies map diurnal lipid oscillations and clock-driven purine synthesis.

Scientific Recognition:

• Roche Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (2003) & Award (2004)
• Takeda Foundation Award (2011)
• Leenaards Prize (2019)
• ISREC Tandem Grant (2023)

Funding: Continuously supported by Swiss National Science Foundation, European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes, Swiss Cancer League, and private foundations since 2009.

Laboratory: Part of the Faculty Diabetes Center and Translational Chronobiology and Chronomedicine group, developing chrono-based clinical applications and personalized time-dependent treatments.