Erik Herzog, PhD

Erik Herzog studies the biology of daily rhythms and its application to medicine (chronobiology or circadian medicine). His lab focuses on how molecules, cells and circuits regulate daily rhythms in physiology and behavior and how they can be targeted for improved disease diagnosis and treatment. He earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience studying with Dr. Robert Barlow and pursued postdoctoral training with Dr. Gene Block. In 2000, he started his lab at Washington University (Wash U). With support from agencies including the National Institutes of Health, Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health,National Science Foundation and the March of Dimes, his lab has published over 140 peer-reviewed articles. His laboratory discovered, for example, that the neuropeptide, VIP, coordinates daily rhythms in gene expression, excitability, and other functions (circadian synchrony) among cells in the brain. They developed methods (e.g. ICON, BSAC, and MITE) to identify neural codes, connections, and cell types that underlie healthy daily rhythms in the brain and behavior as a function of age, sex, and seasons. This has led to surprising clinical applications to treat a variety of cancers and arthritis, and to prevent preterm birth in humans using sleep and circadian principles. Dr. Herzog is the Viktor Hamburger Distinguished Professor of Arts and Sciences at Washington University, Director of the Wash U ENDURE Program, Faculty Coordinator of St. Louis Neuroscience Outreach, and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Biological Rhythms. He served as President of the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms and Director of the Wash U Neuroscience Ph.D. program. He has dedicated himself to increasing access to science through service at Washington University, in St. Louis, the Society for Neuroscience, and the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms. He has been recognized with multiple research, teaching, mentoring, and inclusion awards.

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