Understanding how sleep is controlled in tiny worms
Official title: Mechanisms of Sleep Regulation in C. elegans
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-10910105 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how tiny worms sleep when they're stressed, hoping to learn more about the basic ways sleep works, which could help us understand sleep in people too.
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 start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $375,430 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM150658-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10910105 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include individuals suffering from sleep disorders or related neurological conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have sleep-related issues or neurological disorders may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms that regulate sleep using the model organism C. elegans, a type of tiny worm. By focusing on how cellular stress activates specific signaling pathways in a single neuron to induce sleep, the study aims to uncover fundamental genetic and neural processes involved in sleep regulation. The approach involves observing behavioral changes in these worms under stress conditions to gain insights that may be applicable to understanding sleep in more complex organisms, including humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into sleep disorders and potential treatments for improving sleep quality in humans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using simple model organisms have shown success in uncovering basic mechanisms of sleep regulation, suggesting that this approach is promising.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Han — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Wang, Han
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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.