How some rodents survive extreme dehydration
Official title: Uncovering physiological and genomic mechanisms that enable dehydration tolerance in rodents
Funded at University of New Hampshire · NIH-11088961 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are learning how certain rodents tolerate severe dehydration to find ideas that might help people who face dangerous fluid loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Hampshire NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2018 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $619,897 |
| NIH project number | 2R35GM128843-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11088961 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People most likely to benefit would include older adults, infants and children, people with chronic illnesses, and those with limited access to clean water or at high risk of fluid loss.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who require immediate emergency fluid replacement or whose conditions are unrelated to fluid balance are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic animal research.
What this research studies
This project studies how some rodents survive with very little water by measuring their body temperature, activity, metabolism, and organ function. Scientists will also look at gene activity and molecular pathways, including the RAAS system and the vasoactive molecule 20-HETE, to see what changes protect organs during dehydration. The work is done in animal models at the University of New Hampshire lab, and findings will be used to suggest potential targets for future treatments or protective strategies in people. Ultimately the team hopes to translate these animal discoveries into approaches that reduce dehydration-related illness and cognitive problems.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drugs or strategies to prevent organ failure, cognitive decline, and death from dehydration, especially for vulnerable groups.
How similar studies have gone: Researchers have previously described dehydration adaptations in desert animals, but translating specific molecular pathways from rodents to safe human treatments remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Hampshire
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Macmanes, Matthew David — University of New Hampshire
- Study coordinator: Macmanes, Matthew David
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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.