Louis Ptáček, M.D.
John C. Coleman Distinguished Professor of Neurology
University of California, San Francisco
Awarded in celebration of the life and work of Dr. Louis Ptáček for his many contributions to understanding the genetic basis of wake-sleep and circadian disorders.
Dr. Louis Ptáček’s notable areas of scientific contributions include:
- Identifying the first Mendelian variants affecting human circadian rhythms, including genetic mutations responsible for short circadian periods in humans that underlie familial advanced sleep phase syndrome, and their relationship to the function of biological clock genes
- Elucidating the role of post-translational modification of clock genes in modifying the rhythms of life
- Demonstrating the role of clock gene mutations under short photoperiod relating to seasonal mood disorders
- Discovery that mutations of DEC2 gene, a transcriptional repressor for the expression of orexin, can cause familial natural short sleep and increase the expression of orexin
Harvard Medical School
Division of Sleep Medicine
2021 Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine Prize Recipient
See more information about the 2021 Sleep and Health Benefit Dinner.