Carolina Escobar

Dr Carolina Escobar obtained a bachelor degree in Psychology by the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) , the Masters degree and PhD in Physiological Sciences also by UNAM.

Carolina Escobar is now full time Senior Professor at the Anatomy Department in the Faculty of Medicine UNAM and directs a laboratory for basic research on Circadian Rhythms, Food intake and Metabolism. At the present time she coordinates the Research Programs of the Department and participates in several committees for evaluation of research projects in the University. She is member of the National Research System in Mexico, of the National Academy of Medicine and the Mexican Academy of Sciences. Also, she was vicepresident and president of the Physiology Society in Mexico (2008- 2011).

The main contributions of her laboratory have been on the behavioral, metabolic and brain mechanisms of food entrainment and on the deleterious effects due to circadian disruption. Therefore, a main task in her laboratory has been to develop experimental models that mimic human conditions of night feeding, night work, jet-lag and sleep disruption. Her work is based on rodent models and contributes to basic science. Her research on circadian disruption has provided evidence of the relevance of timing food intake and activity to keep the organism’s integrity. Consequently it has been evidenced that food and activity during the rest phase have a negative influence on behavior and health. This has provided a new perspective of the circadian system as a key process for homeostasis. Also, her group has described mechanisms of circadian entrainment by regular and palatable food, which now can partly explain the process of addictive behavior.