Sleep and body effects of autism-linked gene changes
Project 4: Whole-brain and body characterization of sleep disturbances and interventions in Fmr1, Shank3 and Cntnap2 knockout zebrafish
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · NIH-11176193
This project tests whether fixing sleep problems can improve brain development and behavior linked to autism caused by changes in specific genes.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | STANFORD UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (STANFORD, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11176193 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers use transparent zebrafish engineered with autism-linked gene changes (Fmr1, Shank3, Cntnap2) so they can image the whole brain and body during sleep with a new fluorescence-based polysomnography (fPSG) method. They will create sleep disruptions during development to see whether these disturbances cause synapse and behavioral problems and then try sleep-improving interventions, including melatonin-like treatments, to reverse those effects. This zebrafish work complements related mouse and human projects in the larger program but focuses on whole-brain, single-cell resolution imaging that only zebrafish allow. The aim is to link sleep patterns to brain wiring and behaviors associated with autism genes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autism who have sleep problems and especially those with known changes in FMR1, SHANK3, or CNTNAP2 could be most relevant to eventual interventions informed by this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose autism does not involve sleep disturbances or who have unrelated underlying causes may not directly benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could show that improving sleep during development helps correct brain wiring and behaviors tied to some forms of autism, pointing toward new treatment ideas.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and some human studies link sleep and melatonin to synaptic health, but using whole-brain zebrafish imaging to study autism-gene effects during sleep is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
STANFORD, UNITED STATES
- STANFORD UNIVERSITY — STANFORD, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MOURRAIN, PHILIPPE — STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: MOURRAIN, PHILIPPE
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.
Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder patient, Autistic Disorder