Researchers Unlock Secrets of Hibernation for Human Health

In a new episode of CNN’s series Vital Signs, the potential health benefits of understanding hibernation are explored, highlighting how the genetic secrets of hibernating animals could lead to breakthroughs in human medicine. This episode, airing on November 29, 2025, features CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who travels the globe to meet leading researchers in this innovative field.

Genetic Links to Cancer Treatment

The journey begins at the University of Utah, where Professor Chris Gregg is investigating the relationship between hibernation and cancer. Gregg’s personal experience with stage 4 male breast cancer has driven his research. Together with fellow researchers Alana Welm and K-T Varley at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, they are examining why cancer growth halts in hibernating animals. Their research focuses on dormant cancer cells, striving to unravel the mechanisms behind their dormancy and reactivation, which could redefine cancer treatment strategies.

This exploration is significant as it aims to identify why certain hibernating species can pause cancer proliferation. The work promises to offer new avenues for therapies that could mimic these natural processes in humans.

Innovations in Cardiovascular Health and Space Travel

The episode then shifts to Fauna Bio, a biotech company studying the remarkable 13-lined ground squirrel, often referred to as the “Usain Bolt of hibernators.” These creatures endure numerous physiological challenges during their six-month hibernation, including up to 25 instances of “mini heart attacks or strokes.” Remarkably, they fully recover from these events.

Researchers at Fauna Bio have developed an AI platform to analyze the genetic profiles of hibernators compared to humans. This work has already led to preclinical safety trials for a new drug aimed at treating conditions like heart failure, potentially revolutionizing cardiovascular care.

Additionally, Fauna Bio is collaborating with NASA to create a “RESPYRS Unit,” which will facilitate research into hibernation’s effects in microgravity. This initiative seeks to understand how inducing a hibernation-like state could support long-duration human space travel.

Pioneering Induction of Torpor in Humans

The episode also features the RIKEN Laboratory for Hibernation Biology in Kobe, Japan, where Dr. Genshiro Sunagawa leads innovative research that successfully induced a torpor-like state in non-hibernating mice. By activating specific neurons in the brain, Sunagawa’s team aims to make human hibernation a reality. This development could transform emergency medicine, allowing for safer patient transport and reducing reliance on general anaesthetics during surgery.

Dr. Sunagawa also discusses the potential connections between hibernation and mental health, suggesting that conditions like Seasonal Affective Disorder may share evolutionary roots with hibernation processes, which aid in survival.

Moreover, research from the University of Pittsburgh, in collaboration with NASA, has demonstrated the ability to induce a torpor-like state in human participants for up to 20 hours using an FDA-approved sedative. During this period, participants maintained lower metabolic rates while still performing complex tasks, indicating that practical applications of this research are on the horizon.

The revelations presented in this episode of Vital Signs illustrate how insights gained from hibernating animals could lead to significant advancements in human health, addressing challenges from cancer treatment to the future of space exploration. As researchers continue to crack the genetic code of hibernation, the potential for a healthier and more adaptable human future becomes increasingly tangible.