Improving facilities for studying hibernation in bears at UAF
Official title: Modernizing a Shared-Use Large Animal Facility Supporting Translational Hibernation Research at UAF
Funded at University of Alaska Fairbanks · NIH-10737593 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to improve a facility for studying American black bears so researchers can learn more about hibernation and how it might help us understand and treat metabolic diseases in people, while also providing a safe space for bears that need help instead of being put down.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alaska Fairbanks NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fairbanks, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $345,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R24OD035499-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10737593 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include individuals with metabolic disorders, muscle atrophy, or ischemia-reperfusion injuries.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to metabolic diseases or those not affected by muscle atrophy may not receive benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on modernizing the Large Animal Isolation Facility at the University of Alaska Fairbanks to enhance the study of hibernation in American black bears. By upgrading the caging options, the research aims to allow for long-term holding of bears during the summer, which is crucial for conducting experiments on metabolic suppression and resilience to diseases. The facility will support advanced physiological monitoring and utilize MRI technology to better understand how hibernation can inform treatments for metabolic diseases in humans. This work is particularly important as it addresses the welfare of 'problem bears' that would otherwise be euthanized.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to breakthroughs in understanding metabolic diseases and improve treatment options for patients suffering from related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in using hibernation models to study metabolic diseases, indicating that this approach has potential for significant advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Toien, Oivind — University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Study coordinator: Toien, Oivind
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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.