How exercise may improve heart and metabolic health for night shift workers
Official title: The Impact of Exercise on Cardiometabolic Health during Shiftwork: A Proof of Concept Study
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11282877 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small proof-of-concept study will test if a guided aerobic exercise routine can help prevent heart and metabolic problems in adults who regularly work night shifts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 7, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $117,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03HL183105-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11282877 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21+ who work nontraditional hours and have or are at risk for adult-onset diabetes.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not work night shifts or have no risk factors for diabetes may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
If you work evening, rotating, or night shifts and have or are at risk for adult-onset diabetes, this study will test whether a short, guidelines-based bout of aerobic exercise can counteract the negative effects of circadian misalignment on your heart and metabolism. Researchers will run a tightly controlled protocol to optimize procedures, train staff, and improve the experience for participants before a larger trial. The goal is to see if aerobic exercise can improve factors like blood pressure and insulin sensitivity in this specific population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to practical exercise recommendations to reduce cardiometabolic risk for night shift workers.
How similar studies have gone: Prior evidence shows exercise improves cardiometabolic health, but this study will determine its effectiveness specifically for circadian misalignment from night shift work.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Creasy, Seth a — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Creasy, Seth a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Preterm infant body composition and early-life health after NICU stay
This grant studies how body composition in very preterm babies relates to later brain development and risk of obesity or diabetes, with findings meant to improve care from NICU through early childhood.
-
Psychosocial and cultural factors linked to heart and metabolic health in older Chinese Americans
This project studies how daily stress and social factors affect heart and metabolic health in older Chinese Americans, using real-time reporting and biosamples.
-
Early life factors shaping heart health in HIV-exposed versus unexposed kids in South Africa
A study following children from birth through adolescence to understand how HIV exposure and early infections influence heart-related health risks.
-
Early-life factors shaping heart health in HIV-exposed and unexposed children in South Africa
This project follows children from birth through adolescence to understand how being exposed to HIV before birth affects their metabolic and heart health over time.
-
Promoting steady activity for adults with obesity through PATH-powered exercise videos and remote coaching
A weight-neutral online program called PATH uses YouTube workout videos and remote coaching to help adults with obesity stay active and improve heart health over a year.
-
Morning light to improve heart and blood sugar health in adults with Type 1 Diabetes
A small trial tests whether morning bright light can improve blood sugar control and blood pressure in adults with Type 1 Diabetes.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.