Exploring how lack of sleep affects gut health
Official title: Understanding the effects of sleep deprivation on the gut's cellular homeostatic process
Funded at Harvard Medical School · NIH-11062506 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how not getting enough sleep can affect gut health, using fruit flies to help us understand how sleep loss might change the gut and increase the risk of heart and metabolic issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 19, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $22,823 |
| NIH project number | 5F32HL168844-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11062506 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing chronic sleep disturbances or related gastrointestinal issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable sleep patterns and no gastrointestinal concerns may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between sleep deprivation and gut health using fruit flies as a model. It aims to understand how chronic sleep loss leads to changes in gut cell composition and function, potentially increasing the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The study will analyze the effects of sleep deprivation on gut cellular processes and the signaling pathways involved in this relationship. By examining these mechanisms, the research seeks to uncover how sleep quality impacts overall gut physiology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into how improving sleep may enhance gut health and reduce the risk of related diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the gut-sleep relationship, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard Medical School
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Laureano Ruiz, Alejandra Sofia — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Laureano Ruiz, Alejandra Sofia
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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.