NIH-funded research R01 grant

How eating times affect blood pressure in obesity

Official title: Food intake timing on circadian control of blood pressure in diet-induced obesity.

Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11456258 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project asks how when you eat affects blood pressure in obesity, aiming to find simple timing strategies to help people manage blood pressure.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Birmingham, United States)
Project startSeptember 1, 2026
Project endMay 31, 2030
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$713,515
NIH project number1R01HL179577-01A1
Project IDNIH-11456258 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates are individuals with obesity or overweight with or at risk for high blood pressure, who could later participate in human trials.

Less likely to help

Results from mouse studies may not directly translate to everyone, and not all timing strategies will work for every person.

What this research studies

In this study, researchers use a mouse model of diet-induced obesity to see how meal timing changes blood pressure rhythms. They will compare normal eating patterns with time-restricted feeding and observe how the brain’s circadian signals relate to blood pressure control. The goal is to understand whether aligning eating times can restore healthy blood pressure rhythms and reduce cardiovascular risk. Results could inform future human trials on meal timing as a non-drug approach to improve blood pressure in overweight individuals.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to timing-based lifestyle recommendations to improve blood pressure control in obesity.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work in animals suggests meal timing can influence blood pressure rhythms, with potential translation to humans.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham
    Birmingham, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Gamble, Karen L — University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Study coordinator: Gamble, Karen L

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.