How night shift work affects blood fats and insulin sensitivity
Official title: Impact of circulating and tissue-specific lipids on vascular function and insulin sensitivity in chronic night shift workers
Funded at Colorado State University · NIH-11026417 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how working night shifts might mess with your body's natural clock and affect your heart health and blood sugar, especially for people who do this kind of work, to find ways to help them stay healthier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Colorado State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Collins, United States) |
| Project start | February 5, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $617,852 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL168081-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11026417 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who work night shifts and experience circadian misalignment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not work night shifts or have no issues with sleep patterns may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the health impacts of working night shifts, particularly how it disrupts normal biological rhythms and affects blood fats and insulin sensitivity. The study focuses on understanding the relationship between circadian misalignment and increased risks of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes among shift workers. By analyzing blood samples and tissue-specific lipids, researchers aim to uncover the mechanisms behind these health risks and explore potential strategies for improving health outcomes in this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to targeted interventions that improve cardiovascular health and insulin sensitivity in night shift workers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that circadian misalignment can negatively impact health, suggesting that this study builds on established findings rather than exploring a completely novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Broussard, Josiane — Colorado State University
- Study coordinator: Broussard, Josiane
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How clock-watching lifestyle affects fats, blood vessels, and insulin in night-shift workers
This study looks at how being awake and active at night changes lipids in the blood and muscle and what that means for blood vessel function and insulin in adults who work night shifts.
-
How bile acids affect insulin and metabolism in humans
A study using humanized mouse models and human cell systems will explore how a specific group of bile acids (12HBAs) influence insulin signaling and metabolic health in adults.
-
Placental miRNAs and insulin sensitivity in pregnancy
This grant explores whether tiny molecules from the placenta help control how the mother’s body handles insulin during pregnancy, with potential implications for gestational diabetes.
-
Understanding how fat tissue changes affect insulin health
This grant supports a clinician-scientist to explore how fat tissue in adults with obesity influences insulin sensitivity using human data and advanced analyses.
-
Regulation of a new adipokine that improves insulin sensitivity
A scientist-led study will explore how a newly found adipokine called NRN1 helps fat tissue control insulin and glucose in adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
-
Understanding how lipids affect blood vessels and insulin in night-shift workers
A study will look at how specific fats circulating in the blood and in tissues relate to blood vessel function and insulin sensitivity in adults who work night shifts.
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.