Dr. Satchin Panda
PhD · Salk Institute circadian biologist · discoverer of melanopsin's clock role
A rare case: his foundational photobiology (melanopsin/light-clock entrainment) is genuinely bedrock, independently-replicated science — his strongest claim by far. His applied 'time-restricted eating' thesis is where the pattern inverts: the strongest fully-independent RCT (TREAT) found no benefit beyond ordinary calorie restriction and real lean-mass loss, and his own shift-worker trial has not been independently replicated.
Evidence vs. their claims
Across 6 testable claims, where the weight of independent evidence lands — on their side, or against them. Their own research network is excluded as evidence.
Read relative to their stance: when they dispute a claim and the evidence supports that claim, it counts as against them. Each row shows their stance, so you can see which way the evidence cuts.
Conflicts of interest
- Co-created the myCircadianClock app — a non-commercial academic research tool, but also his primary data-collection/recruitment instrument for his own trials
- No supplement line, paid product, or brand endorsements found — a comparatively clean COI profile relative to other figures here
Stated factually. Conflicts do not by themselves make a claim wrong; they are context for weighing it.
Claim-by-claim (6)
Grouped by health topic. A person's claims often span several areas — here's where each one lands.
🥗 Diets 3
⏳ Longevity 3
Educational only, not medical advice. Verdicts grade the evidence, not the person; see the methodology.