Exploring how pregnancy affects sleep needs
Official title: Using a novel model system to explore the causes and consequences of altered sleep need during pregnancy
Funded at Harvard University · NIH-10997934 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how pregnancy affects sleep, especially in the first trimester, using fruit flies to help us understand why pregnant women often feel the need for more sleep and how not getting enough sleep might impact both moms and their babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $36,138 |
| NIH project number | 1F31HL170921-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10997934 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women, particularly those in their first trimester experiencing sleep disturbances.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those who are beyond the first trimester may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between sleep and pregnancy, particularly how pregnancy increases the need for sleep during the first trimester. Using a model system based on the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms behind increased sleep drive and its implications for maternal and offspring health. The research will assess the health impacts of sleep deprivation during pregnancy and identify the biological signals that trigger increased sleep needs. By understanding these processes, the study hopes to shed light on the critical interplay between sleep and women's health during pregnancy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes for pregnant women and their children by addressing sleep-related complications.
How similar studies have gone: While the relationship between sleep and pregnancy has been noted, this specific approach using Drosophila as a model is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Glantz, Ethan — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Glantz, Ethan
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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.