Understanding the biological reasons we need sleep
Official title: The Molecular and Cellular Basis of the Sleep Homeostat
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11061290 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how sleep works and why it's important for keeping our brains healthy, using fruit flies to help us learn more about how being awake affects sleep and how sleep helps our brains recover, which could help us understand sleep problems and their links to issues like Alzheimer's and depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $550,115 |
| NIH project number | 5R35NS132223-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11061290 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing sleep disturbances or conditions linked to inadequate sleep, such as Alzheimer's disease or depression.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with no sleep-related issues or those not affected by conditions like Alzheimer's or depression may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the fundamental mechanisms that regulate sleep and its importance for brain health. By using the fruit fly Drosophila as a model organism, the study aims to uncover how sleep is influenced by prior wakefulness and how it restores brain function. The researchers will utilize advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze changes in genes and proteins related to sleep. This could lead to a better understanding of sleep disorders and their impact on conditions like Alzheimer's and depression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights and treatments for sleep-related disorders and conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding sleep mechanisms using animal models, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Allada, Ravi — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Allada, Ravi
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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.