Understanding why we feel sleepy when sick
Interactions between the immune response and lipid homeostasis in regulating sleep during sickness
This research explores how our immune system and body fat work together to make us feel sleepy when we are ill, using fruit flies to find new answers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141118 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
When people get sick with infections or other illnesses, they often feel very sleepy or find their sleep isn't refreshing. This project uses fruit flies, which show similar sleep changes when sick, to understand the basic reasons behind this. Researchers are looking at how the immune system and the body's fat regulation interact to cause these sleep changes. They are focusing on a specific immune protein that seems to connect the immune response with sleep and fat metabolism, which could offer clues for human conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is relevant for patients experiencing excessive sleepiness or unrefreshing sleep due to infections, autoimmune diseases, or conditions like myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
Not a fit: Patients whose sleep issues are not related to immune responses or metabolic changes during illness may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a better understanding of sickness-related sleep problems and potentially new ways to help patients with conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome or other illnesses that cause excessive sleepiness.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific interactions being studied are novel, previous research has implicated both the immune system and lipid dysregulation in altered sleep during sickness.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Julie a — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Williams, Julie a
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.