Exploring animal hibernation for human health
Official title: Biology and applications of mammalian hibernation-like states
Funded at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res · NIH-11296985 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how animals can slow down their body functions, hoping to find new ways to help people with conditions like cancer, stroke, or heart problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,170,000 |
| NIH project number | 4DP2DK136123-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11296985 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational biological work does not directly involve patient participation at this stage, but future applications could benefit patients with cancer, stroke, cardiac arrest, or neurodegenerative diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not affected by conditions related to metabolism, cell survival under stress, or specific diseases like cancer, stroke, or neurodegeneration may not directly benefit from this particular line of research.
What this research studies
This research explores how warm-blooded animals naturally enter states of greatly reduced body temperature, metabolism, and heart rate, similar to hibernation. Researchers are studying these amazing adaptations in laboratory mice to understand the underlying biological mechanisms. By learning how cells and organs survive these extreme conditions, we hope to discover new strategies to protect human cells during stress. This knowledge could lead to new treatments for various diseases, including slowing cancer growth or protecting the brain during a stroke.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to protect human organs and slow disease progression in conditions like cancer, stroke, and cardiac arrest.
How similar studies have gone: This research builds upon recent advancements in genetic tools and sequencing approaches to investigate a complex biological phenomenon with potential novel applications in human medicine.
Where this research is happening
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Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hrvatin, Sinisa — Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Res
- Study coordinator: Hrvatin, Sinisa
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.