The Clock ABC research project, funded by the EEA Grants Fund for Bilateral Relations, was concluded in December 2024
Led by researcher Cecília Santos from CICS-UBI (University of Beira Interior-Health Sciences Research Centre), in close collaboration with the Translational Neurodegeneration Research and Neuropathology Lab (Pahnke Lab) at the University of Oslo, Norway, the project aimed to investigate how the circadian rhythm affects the activity of efflux transporters and the passage of drugs across brain barriers, particularly the blood-brain barrier.
The results demonstrated that several of these transporters exhibit circadian oscillations in their activity, significantly influencing the transport of specific drugs. Notably, fluctuations were observed in the transport efficiency of an anticancer agent and a drug used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, highlighting the critical role of timing in therapeutic drug administration.
Beyond the scientific findings, Clock ABC also played a key role in consolidating this research line at CICS-UBI and strengthening international scientific collaboration. Two researchers from the Portuguese team visited the Norwegian lab, fostering the exchange of knowledge, methodologies, and experience in translational neuroscience.
The successful completion of Clock ABC marks an important step toward a deeper understanding of biological rhythms and their influence on cerebral pharmacokinetics, paving the way for the development of more effective and personalized therapeutic strategies.