Brain fluid and sleep data hub
Data Science Core
This project uses brain scans, sleep recordings, advanced imaging, and AI to understand how fluid and waste move through the brain during sleep in mice and people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11161463 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will combine MRI, EEG, two-photon imaging in mice, and computer simulations to build a shared data system that links neural activity to cerebrospinal fluid flow. They will create software, workflows, and staffing to store, organize, and analyze large multimodal datasets and to share code among projects. Parts of the work involve detailed imaging in mice and parts involve human MRI and sleep recordings, so people may be asked to have scans or share existing data. The goal is to identify how neural circuits control fluid movement and waste clearance during sleep, to inform future diagnostics or treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults willing to undergo MRI and sleep EEG or to contribute existing brain imaging and sleep data, including those with or without sleep or memory complaints.
Not a fit: People who cannot have MRI or EEG, children if not enrolled, or those with conditions unrelated to brain fluid dynamics are unlikely to see direct benefits from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal how sleep helps clear brain waste and point to new ways to detect or treat conditions linked to poor clearance, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have supported a glymphatic clearance process during sleep and some human imaging hints at similar effects, but combining multimodal data and AI across mice and humans is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- University of Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kelley, Douglas H — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Kelley, Douglas H
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.