Back in Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Giovana began meeting virtually with two of her students, Márcia Lima and Priscila Oliveira, to study, exchange ideas, and explore new research questions.

As chronobiology and chrononutrition were relatively new fields for the group, they began exploring the scientific literature and seeking opportunities to deepen their knowledge. Along this journey, they discovered the work of Prof. Marta Garaulet, an internationally recognized pioneer in chrononutrition and obesity. Her scientific publications, course on chrononutrition, and book Los relojes de tu vida became important references for the group, strengthening their interest in understanding not only what we eat, but also when we eat. Since then, her work has remained an important source of scientific inspiration for CRONUS.

Using data from a birth cohort, conducted by Giovana in 2016–2017, they began investigating different aspects of infant sleep and published their first scientific papers together. As their discussions evolved, new questions emerged, deeping their interest in sleep, and biological rhythms.

What began with three researchers meeting online to study and exchange ideas gradually evolved into something larger: CRONUS – Chronobiology, Nutrition and Health Research Group. The name CRONUS is an acronym derived from the Portuguese words CROnobiologia, NUtrição e Saúde (Chronobiology, Nutrition and Health). 

The group was officially registered with the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) in 2021. 

As CRONUS delved deeper into the scientific literature, another question began to emerge. Much of the evidence on sleep, chronobiology, and chrononutrition came from populations living in Europe and North America — contexts that differ substantially from Brazil in terms of culture, daily routines, eating habits, social schedules, and environmental conditions.

This raised important questions: "Could findings from these populations truly reflect the Brazilian reality? How do Brazilians eat, sleep, and organize their daily rhythms?" 

To answer these questions, they decided to create the SONAR-Brasil Survey in 2021, a nationwide online survey conducted through a questionnaire.  What began as an effort to understand sleep, eating behaviors, and biological rhythms in the Brazilian context grew into CRONUS's flagship research initiative and today provides the foundation for much of its research. 

Discover the SONAR-Brazil Survey → 

The launch of the SONAR-Brasil Survey marked a new stage in the history of CRONUS. Reaching people across a country as large and diverse as Brazil required the team to grow. New students joined the group, bringing new ideas, energy, and a shared enthusiasm for sleep, chrononutrition, and biological rhythms.

As SONAR-Brasil grew, CRONUS grew with it. What had started with three researchers gradually became a growing community of students and researchers sharing the same curiosity and passion for understanding how our daily behaviors and biological rhythms shape health.

Meet the CRONUS Team Through the Years → 

As SONAR-Brasil expanded, the group faced another challenge: How could CRONUS reach people across the country and encourage them to participate in our research? This led to the creation of the group's digital media team and CRONUS channels on Instagram and YouTube, initially developed to promote the survey nationwide.

Over time, these channels became much more than a way to recruit participants. They evolved into platforms for knowledge translation, transforming scientific evidence on sleep, nutrition, and biological rhythms into clear, accessible, and practical information.

Today, this has become one of the hallmarks of CRONUS. CRONUS believes that research should not end with data collection or scientific publication. Knowledge should return to those who make research possible — and reach society as a whole, helping people make informed choices and promoting healthier lives. 

Discover How We Share Science → 

As CRONUS grew, its research also began to cross borders. The scientific inspiration that had begun years earlier through the work of Prof. Marta Garaulet eventually evolved into an international collaboration with her research group at the University of Murcia, Spain.

Working alongside Prof. Garaulet and her team has provided CRONUS researchers with a valuable opportunity to learn from their expertise and deepen their knowledge in chrononutrition and biological rhythms. The collaboration has since led to joint research projects, scientific publications, academic mobility, and international training, creating new opportunities for the scientific development of CRONUS students and researchers. 

Discover our International Collaboration→