Everybody sleeps – and for a good reason

The Saxena Lab uses genetics and genomics to identify pathways underlying sleep, circadian and pregnancy disorders and reveal links with cardio-metabolic and neurological disease with the aim to prevent, diagnose and treat these disorders.

Genetics of Sleep

What genes underlie differences in sleep patterns between people?
What are the molecular mechanisms underlying sleep disorders?
Why do we sleep?

Genetics of Circadian Rhythms

What molecular pathways cause changes in daily biological rhythms such as morningness-eveningness preference?
How does clock gene variation impact human physiology, behavior and disease?
What genetic variation influences timing of gene expression?

Genetics of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

What maternal and fetal genetic factors cause preeclampsia?
How does preeclampsia relate to cardiometabolic risk factors and outcomes?
What genetic factors contribute to post-partum hemorrhage?

Sleep, Rhythms and Disease

Does sleep and circadian rhythm disruption cause, mark or result from chronic disease?
What mechanisms connect sleep, circadian rhythms and disease?
Do sleep or behavioral timing interventions prevent or ameliorate disease features?

Learn More about our investigations into the science of sleep.

Featured Research Projects

Dissecting causal role of insomnia in cardiovascular disease

This project aims to identify genes and pathways at GWAS loci for insomnia symptoms in humans, test the consequence of loss-of-function of Drosophila orthologs on sleep and cardiac function, and test the impact of perturbed sleep on cardiovascular function in humans and Drosophila.

Linking circadian system and type 2 diabetes through melatonin and receptor variation

This recall by genotype study aims to test the impact of melatonin and MTNR1B variation on regulation glucose regulation in a highly controlled in-laboratory setting and ex vivo in pancreatic islets.

Genetic links between chronic fatigue and long COVID

Genetic approaches leveraging large biobanks offer opportunities for gene discovery unbiased to known biology that should provide insights into the biological underpinnings and possible genetic links with long COVID.

SHIFT Study – Impact of melatonin, food timing, and receptor variant on type 2 diabetes

This project aims to test the impact of melatonin and MTNR1B variation on glucose control and risk of type 2 diabetes in an observational study of night shift workers and natural late-night eaters.

Learn More about all of our research projects.

Linking circadian system and type 2 diabetes through melatonin and receptor variation

This recall by genotype study aims to test the impact...

Genetic links between chronic fatigue and long COVID

Genetic approaches leveraging large biobanks offer opportunities for gene discovery...

Dissecting causal role of insomnia in cardiovascular disease

This project aims to identify genes and pathways at GWAS...

SHIFT Study – Impact of melatonin, food timing, and receptor variant on type 2 diabetes

This project aims to test the impact of melatonin and...

The science of siestas: New research reveals the genetic basis for daytime napping.

Researchers identified 123 regions in the human genome that are associated with daytime napping and three distinct mechanisms that promote napping. Many napping-related genes also...

The Biology of Sleep with Dr. Richa Saxena

Despite all the attention that sleep gets these days, the biology of sleep and its function is still not well understood. Sleep researcher Dr. Richa...

Randomized controlled trial offers insights on how the timing of dinner and genetics affect individuals’ blood sugar control

Key Takeaways Eating dinner close to bedtime, when melatonin levels are high, disturbs blood sugar control, especially in individuals with a genetic variant in the...

Numerous Genetic Variants Are Linked With Differences In Food Intake

Originally published on Nature Human Behaviour. Pubmed listing here. KEY FINDINGS Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have conducted the largest study to date of genetic factors...