How Sleep is Controlled in Simple Organisms
Mechanisms of Sleep Regulation in C. elegans
This project explores how sleep is controlled in tiny worms to help us better understand human sleep problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11124248 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Sleep is a fundamental process essential for all animals, including humans, and sleep disorders are common in modern society. This project aims to uncover the basic genetic pathways and brain mechanisms that control sleep by studying a simple stress-induced sleep state in C. elegans, a tiny worm. Although C. elegans has a much simpler brain, sleep is an evolutionarily conserved process with shared features across different organisms. By understanding how a single neuron can influence sleep in these worms, we hope to gain foundational knowledge that could eventually apply to human sleep regulation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with sleep disorders may eventually benefit from the fundamental discoveries made in this research.
Not a fit: Patients will not directly participate in this foundational research and will not receive immediate clinical benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding the basic mechanisms of sleep in simple organisms could lead to new insights for developing treatments for human sleep disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies in simple organisms like worms, fruit flies, and zebrafish have already provided valuable insights into sleep regulation.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Han — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Wang, Han
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.