Joseph S. Takahashi

Joseph S. Takahashi is Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at UT Southwestern Medical Center and holds the Loyd B. Sands Distinguished Chair in Neuroscience. He previously served at Northwestern University as the Walter and Mary Elizabeth Glass Professor in the Life Sciences, holding dual appointments in Neurobiology and Physiology and Neurology. His research pioneered the use of forward genetics to identify circadian clock genes, notably discovering the mouse and human clock genes.

Education: BA in Biology from Swarthmore College (1974), PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Oregon (1981), followed by postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Mental Health (1981–1983).

Research Interests: His work focuses on circadian rhythms, molecular mechanisms of the circadian clock, and their roles in neurobiology, aging, and disease. Key areas include circadian clock genetics, metabolic regulation, and the impact of circadian timing on longevity. He explores how environmental factors like light and feeding schedules interact with biological clocks.

Professional Contributions: He serves on numerous advisory boards for institutions like the NIH and companies such as Eli Lilly. Co-founded biotech firms Hypnion (now part of Eli Lilly) and Synchronicity Pharma, focusing on sleep and circadian-related therapies. Editor for journals including Neuron, PNAS, and eLife.

• Awards: Honma Prize, Gruber Neuroscience Prize, Member of the National Academy of Sciences (2003), and National Academy of Medicine (2014).
• Key Discoveries: Identification of clock genes, development of genetic tools for circadian research, and insights into circadian control of metabolism and aging.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Joseph Takahashi Lab at UT Southwestern, investigating circadian biology’s role in health and disease. Collaborates on projects involving clock genes in malaria parasites and metabolic disorders.