Research Into Hibernation
Ecology, ethology, evolution, physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology of hibernation. Biomedical applications of hibernating mechanisms, e.g. in medicine or space travel, and related disciplines such as biological rhythms, sleep, thermoregulation and hypometabolism.
IHS online research seminar
Hibernation, climate change and adaptation: lessons from a South American hibernator
Dr. Roberto Nespolo
Universidad Austral de Chile
6th January 2026
News
Sleep your way to Mars: How hibernation could redefine space travel and medicine
Animals can hibernate, slowing down most metabolic functions — heart rate, blood flow, brain activity, and body temperature — then waking as if nothing happened. Humans have never done this, but what if they could? Could hibernation extend life or even save it? This episode of Vital Signs with Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores global research into the molecular mechanics of hibernation and how these abilities might one day help fight cancer, prevent heart disease, treat depression, and even enable travel to Mars.Proceedings of the 17th International Hibernation Symposium: Life in Changing Winters
Hosted in July 2024 in Mt. Tremblant, Québec, the meeting brought together 115 delegates from 16 countries to share research on hibernation, thermal biology, and adaptation to extreme environments. This Special Collection in the Canadian Journal of Zoology reflects the breadth of the meeting – from field ecophysiology to cellular mechanisms and emerging biomedical opportunities.Spring 2026 Hibernation Highlights
Learn about how microbiota from hibernating Himalayan marmots triggers hibernation-like state in mice. Bao et al. Intestinal bacteria trigger a hibernation-like state in homotherms via the gut-brain axis. Nature Publishing Journal Biofilms & Microbiomes – December 2025
Interesting insights about European hedgehogs using anthropogenic material for hibernating over winter. Crawford et al. From Leaves to Litter: Use of Anthropogenic Nesting Materials in Hibernation Nests of the European Hedgehog. Ecology & Evolution – January 2026
Discover how the unique role of mitochondria helps hibernating bears preserving muscle! Bergouignan et al. The Preservation of Muscle Mitochondrial Machinery During Hypometabolic Hibernation in Scandinavian Brown Bears (Ursus arctos). Acta Physiologica – February 2026
Interested to read about epitranscriptomics and dormancy modulation? Pashay Ahi et al. Epitranscriptomics as a Candidate Universal Modulator of Dormancy Transitions. Ecology & Evolution – February 2026
Read another cool study on gut microbiota and metabolic depression. Shao et al. Hibernation Shifts in Gut Microbiota Composition and Metabolic Function in the Chinese Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus sinicus). Journal of Ecology & Evolution – February 2026
Excited to discover one of the few studies reporting torpor in passerine birds? Barratt et al. Torpor in a passerine bird expands the scope of avian heterothermy. Current Biology – March 2026
Make sure to read this intriguing piece of work on local adaptation in a heterothermic bat. Wu et al. Local climate and genetic influence on intraspecific variation in torpor physiology of a cave-roosting bat. Functional Ecology – March 2026
Learn how weather-driven shifts in the light-dark regime may disrupt circadian rhythmicity in a rodent hibernator. Vasilieva et al. Daily rhythms of a diurnal hibernating rodent: new findings from a telemetry study. Mammalian Biology – March 2026
Discover how daily torpor in the Djungarian hamster differs between summer and winter. Geiser et al. Daily torpor in summer- and winter-acclimated hamsters: are thermal biology and balancing energy budgets under a different seasonal physiological control? Journal of Comparative Physiology B – February 2026
Board of the society
Treasurer
Hjalmar Bouma
Interests: immunological aspects of hibernation for application in personalized acute medicine.
Secretary
Jessica Healy-LaPrice
Interests: ecophysiology of energy balance in ground squirrels.
IHS2027 organizer
Matteo Cerri
Interests: inducing hibernation-like states in non-hibernators including humans.
IHS2024 organizer
Jim Staples
Interests: mitochondria in energy savings and oxidative damage during hibernation.
Member, content provider
Genshiro Sunagawa
Interests: every aspect of hibernation that may result in the clinical application of active hypometabolism.
Member, communication
Sylvain Giroud
Interests: ecophysiology of Metabolic Downstates. Adaptive Responses to Global Change. Biomimicry.
Member, training
Shona Wood
Interests: Torpor arousal cycling. Photoperiodism. Circannual rhythms. Neuroendocrine mechanisms.
Member, webmaster
Chun-Xia Yi
Interests: neuron-glia interaction in neuroendocrinology and chronobiology. Hibernation in human.
Hibernation Researchers World-Wide
Contact us
Get in touch with the society by sending us an email via the form below