How light affects the body's internal clock and physiology
Official title: Signal Generation and Processing in the Retinohypothalamic Pathway
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11080891 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how light affects our body's internal clock, which helps control things like sleep and mood, by focusing on special cells in the eye that sense light and send signals to the brain; it's for anyone interested in how changes in light exposure might impact health and daily life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $701,343 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY036071-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11080891 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing circadian rhythm disorders or related health issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable circadian rhythms and no related health concerns may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how light influences the circadian clock in mammals, which helps regulate various physiological processes and gene expression. It focuses on specialized neurons in the eye that detect light using a molecule called melanopsin and how this information is transmitted to the brain's suprachiasmatic nucleus via the retinohypothalamic pathway. By employing innovative methods to study these neurons and their connections, the research aims to understand how the brain interprets light intensity and maintains synchronization with the day/night cycle. This could provide insights into how disruptions in light exposure affect health and behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for conditions related to circadian rhythm disruptions, such as sleep disorders and mood disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding circadian rhythms and their impact on health, indicating that this approach has potential for significant findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Do, Michael Tri Hoang — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Do, Michael Tri Hoang
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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.