Dr. Colleen McClung

One Mind Johnson & Johnson Rising Star Translational Research Award

Investigating Specific HDAC Gene Inhibition as a Novel Bipolar Disorder Treatment. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Dr. McClung’s research has established circadian rhythm disruption as a driver of mood disorders, pointing to clock proteins as therapeutic targets.

Dr. Colleen McClung is a leading expert on circadian rhythms in psychiatric disorders, investigating how molecular clock proteins influence mood, reward, novelty seeking, and anxiety. Using rodent models and human postmortem brain tissue, her work reveals how disrupted rhythms contribute to mental illness and identifies targets for treatment. Continuously funded by the NIH for over 20 years, she directs the NIDA-funded Center for Adolescent Reward, Rhythms and Sleep (CARRS) and collaborates with pharmaceutical companies to develop novel psychiatric medications. Dr. McClung’s honors include multiple NARSAD awards and recognition from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.