Researchers Unlock Hibernation Secrets to Transform Human Health

In a stunning exploration of the potential benefits of hibernation, CNN’s series Vital Signs has unveiled how researchers are “cracking the code on the genome” of hibernating animals. The latest episode, airing on November 29, 2025, showcases groundbreaking research that could revolutionize human health, with implications for treating diseases such as cancer and heart disease, as well as enhancing space travel capabilities.

Global Research Initiatives

Guided by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, the episode takes viewers on a global journey, highlighting innovative work being conducted by various teams. One notable stop is the University of Utah, where Professor of Neurobiology Chris Gregg is investigating the genetic connections between hibernation and cancer. Motivated by his personal experience with stage 4 male breast cancer, Gregg, alongside colleagues Alana Welm and K-T Varley at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, aims to uncover why cancer growth halts during the hibernation process. Their research focuses on dormant cancer cells, seeking to answer critical questions about their dormancy and reactivation.

The exploration continues at Fauna Bio, a biotechnology firm studying the remarkable 13-lined ground squirrel, often referred to as the “Usain Bolt of hibernators.” These squirrels endure numerous “mini heart attacks or strokes” during their six-month hibernation yet can fully repair any resulting damage. The company has developed an artificial intelligence platform that compares genetic information from hibernators and humans, identifying potential compounds and genes that may protect human heart cells. Their work has already advanced to preclinical safety trials for a drug targeting heart failure.

Pioneering Research in Japan and the U.S.

The episode also features the RIKEN Laboratory for Hibernation Biology in Kobe, Japan, where Dr. Genshiro Sunagawa and his team have made significant strides in inducing a torpor-like state in non-hibernating mice. Their pioneering research from 2020 involved activating specific “Q neurons” in the brain, marking a potential breakthrough in human medicine. Dr. Sunagawa envisions a future where induced hibernation could transform emergency medicine, allowing safer patient transport, minimizing the need for general anaesthesia during surgeries, and extending the viability of organs for transplant.

Additionally, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, in collaboration with NASA, have successfully induced a torpor-like state in human participants for up to 20 hours using an FDA-approved sedative. Participants experienced reduced metabolic rates while still being able to perform complex tasks, suggesting practical applications for human hibernation in the near future.

Overall, this episode of Vital Signs highlights the profound lessons that can be learned from hibernating animals and their potential to pave the way for a healthier and more adaptable human future. As the research progresses, it may not only provide insights into combating diseases on Earth but also unlock new possibilities for long-duration human space travel.

For further details, viewers can catch the episode on CNN channels at the scheduled airtimes: November 29 at 14:30 and 19:30 HKT, and November 30 at 02:30 and 12:00 HKT.