How age and sex affect light's influence on sleep and the body clock
Impact of sex and age on non-visual light input that affects sleep and circadian rhythms
Researchers will compare how different kinds of light affect sleep and the body clock in adults of different ages and sexes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11116940 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would visit a clinic and sit through short, controlled light exposures while staff measure your pupil response and other simple signals like heart rate and sleep-related hormones. Sessions use a commercial pupillometer and typically last under an hour, with immediate pupil measurements and possible saliva or blood samples for melatonin. The team will enroll adults across a range of ages and both sexes to see whether the melanopsin-driven non-visual light pathway responds differently by age and sex to various wavelengths, intensities, and durations. Results are intended to clarify why sleep, mood, and circadian problems vary with age and sex and to inform more targeted diagnosis and treatment approaches.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older of any sex who can attend in-person visits and tolerate controlled light exposure and brief physiological testing are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People under 21, those unable to tolerate light exposure, or those with eye conditions that prevent normal pupil responses may not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help tailor light-based timing and treatment strategies to a person's age and sex to improve sleep, mood, and circadian health.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows pupil responses and melatonin rhythms vary with age, sex, and some sleep or psychiatric conditions, but using these measures to guide personalized care is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Klerman, Elizabeth B. — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Klerman, Elizabeth B.
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.