Professor Dr Horst-Werner Korf

Main areas of research: Neurobiology of circadian systems, non-visual photoreception, role of peptidergic and lipidergic, impact of the circadian system on pathophysiological processes and disease, neurodegeneration and -regeneration
Horst-Werner Korf investigates neuroendocrine and neuronal circuits of the circadian system that generates an endogenous rhythm, entrains this rhythm to the photoperiod (length of day and night), and transmits it to the body periphery.
He has obtained widely recognized results on the innervation and cell biology of the pineal organ that rhythmically synthesizes the neurohormone melatonin, an important hand of the biological clock. Together with his coworkers he has made important contributions to the analysis of molecular mechanisms that control the biosynthesis of melatonin, convey the melatonin signal to endocrine cells and entrain the endogenous rhythm to the ambient photoperiod. His current research is focussed on lipid (endocannabinoid) signaling in neuroendocrine circuits and the circadian system.