NightOwling at UC San Diego’s 2026 CCBM Fall Workshop

On October 16, I attended the Center for Circadian Biology and Medicine’s Fall Workshop at UC San Diego. The program covered everything from the molecular workings of biological clocks to the experiences of people building businesses around circadian science.

Christopher Colwell gave the keynote on circadian disruption and intervention in neurodevelopmental disorders. Other presentations included Jordan Levy’s work on circadian lifestyle interventions in older adults, alongside talks on clock mechanisms, responses to stress, and the relationship between circadian disruption and disease.

I enjoyed seeing that range of work in one program, with research presentations, industry perspectives, and posters all part of the day.

What Would Help Circadian Science Reach More People?

The industry panel was a highlight. Luciano DiTacchio, Royan Kamyar, and Robert Soler discussed their experiences across software, lighting, and biotech and pharmaceuticals, with Michael Lam introducing the session.

I asked the panel what one or two things would help bring circadian science to a larger scale. Communication and awareness were two themes I took away from their responses. My impression was that there was some agreement on those needs across the different areas they worked in.

I also raised the possibility of incorporating circadian science into products that are already working well. An existing product may already have an audience, people’s trust, and a place in their routine. There’s a lot of work involved in getting to that point, and there could be opportunities to build on it.

Others in the room had plenty to ask, too. We reached the end of the allotted time with questions still coming, and several of us stayed afterward to keep talking. The poster session followed, with more research to look through and people to meet.

Some Reflections on the Wider Field

The communication point seems relevant across the field. Explaining circadian science to another researcher is a different task from explaining it to a clinician, a product team, or the public. Those audiences have different questions. Clear explanations of what the research shows, its possible applications, and its limits would help more people participate in the discussion.

Personalized medicine is another area where circadian science could have more to contribute. It raises questions about how biological timing might fit into care designed around an individual. There is more to explore around what can usefully be personalized, what evidence is needed, and how those approaches could become practical for wider use.

The mix of experience on the panel also made me think about the value of more regular discussion between academia, healthcare, and industry. Researchers can hear what others are trying to develop. Companies and clinicians can ask about the evidence and the questions still being studied. The software, lighting, and biotech perspectives brought different experiences into the room, and the audience clearly had more to discuss than the schedule allowed.

What This Could Mean for NightOwling

For NightOwling, I’m interested in two things from these discussions: explaining relevant research clearly to night workers and employers, and finding opportunities to improve products or services they already use.

Someone coming to us with a question about their night-shift routine should be able to understand why a resource is relevant, what it’s based on, and what they can reasonably expect from it. We can also look for places where working with researchers or other companies could help us develop something more useful.

I’ve since connected with a number of people from the workshop on LinkedIn, and I’m looking forward to following their work and continuing some of those discussions.

Thank you to UC San Diego’s Center for Circadian Biology and Medicine for hosting the workshop. A special thank-you to Emily Manoogian, Alan Moazzam, Amir Zarrinpar, and Colleen Reich, and to the speakers, panelists, poster presenters, and everyone who helped organize the day.

See the CCBM Fall Workshop program.