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Short-Wavelength Countermeasure for Circadian Desynchrony

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA9550-07-C-0111
Agency Tracking Number: F074-015-0066
Amount: $99,969.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF07-T015
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2007
Award Year: 2007
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2007-09-27
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2008-06-27
Small Business Information
333 Parkland Plaza Drive Suite 700
Ann Arbor, CA 48103
United States
DUNS: 036950975
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 H. Craig Heller
 Professor
 (650) 723-1509
 hcheller@stanford.edu
Business Contact
 Charles Hixson
Title: President
Phone: (734) 332-3777
Email: carlosdelnorte@sbcglobal.net
Research Institution
 STANFORD UNIV.
 Blanca Rebuelta
 
Office of Sponsored Research 651 Serra Mall
Stanford, CA 94305 6203
United States

 (650) 725-0515
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

Exposure to light at critical phases of the circadian cycle is the main stimulus that phase shifts and entrains circadian rhythms. Whereas previous work has concluded that exposure of humans to bright light for an hour or more at the right phase of the circadian cycle produces significant phase shifts of circadian rhythms, and can speed recovery from jet-lag thus facilitating restorative sleep. Our work on mice has produced the unexpected result that exposure of the animals to intermittent millisecond flashes of light distributed over an hour for a total of only 120 msec. of light can produce maximum phase shifts. We have also shown that the effects of light on the circadian system of mice is mediated through a unique photopigment - melanopsin, and the properties of this system explain the effectiveness of brief flashes of light as entraining signals. We propose a proof of concept study to demonstrate whether or not millisecond flashes of light can phase shift the human circadian system. On the basis of these results, we will develop a phase shifting device for military and commercial applications.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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