How gut signals affect sleep and arousal
Official title: Regulation of arousability by signaling from the gut
Funded at Harvard Medical School · NIH-11026705 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how what we eat affects our sleep and how easily we wake up, using fruit flies to learn more about the connection between our gut and sleep quality, which could help us understand how diet impacts sleep in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $594,547 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL176991-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11026705 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing sleep disturbances or disorders, particularly those related to aging or nutritional factors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have sleep issues or those whose sleep disturbances are unrelated to nutritional intake may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how signals from the gut influence the ability to be aroused from sleep and the quality of sleep. It focuses on understanding the mechanisms that control arousability, particularly how nutritional status impacts sleep depth without altering sleep duration. By studying a specific signaling pathway in fruit flies, the research aims to uncover how protein intake affects sensory responsiveness and sleep quality. This could lead to insights into how dietary factors influence sleep in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for improving sleep quality and managing sleep disorders through dietary interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the relationship between nutrition and sleep, but this specific gut-to-brain signaling pathway is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard Medical School
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rogulja, Dragana — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Rogulja, Dragana
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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.