Louis Ptáček

Louis Ptáček, MD, is the John C. Coleman Distinguished Professor of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco. He was recognized in 2021 by Harvard Medical School's Division of Sleep Medicine for his groundbreaking work on the genetic basis of wake-sleep and circadian disorders.

• Identified first Mendelian variants affecting human circadian rhythms
• Discovered genetic mutations causing familial advanced sleep phase syndrome
• Elucidated post-translational modifications of clock genes
• Linked clock gene mutations to seasonal mood disorders under short photoperiod
• Identified DEC2 gene mutations causing familial natural short sleep