Understanding how the brain influences sickness behaviors
Official title: Elucidating neural mechanisms underlying sickness behaviors
Funded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology · NIH-10981619 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how your brain and immune system work together when you're sick, to understand why you might feel tired or not want to eat, and it could help us learn more about how these changes affect your health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $473,814 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS135616-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10981619 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing significant changes in behavior due to infections or inflammatory conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with chronic conditions unrelated to immune responses or those not exhibiting sickness behaviors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the neural mechanisms that lead to sickness behaviors, which are changes in behavior that occur during infection or inflammation, such as reduced activity and altered feeding. By focusing on the interaction between the immune system and the nervous system, the study aims to identify specific brain regions and neural circuits involved in these behaviors. The researchers will explore how cytokines, particularly IL-1β, affect neurons in the brain, potentially revealing new insights into how the body responds to illness. This could help in understanding the biological basis of these behaviors and their impact on health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that improve the management of sickness behaviors, enhancing patient recovery during infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of cytokines in behavior, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Choi, Gloria — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Choi, Gloria
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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.