How working night shifts affects metabolism and muscle clocks
Official title: Impact of Shiftwork on Metabolic Flexibility and Skeletal Muscle Clocks
Funded at Adventhealth Orlando · NIH-10989886 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how working night shifts affects your body's ability to use energy and keep your internal clock in sync, which could help explain why shift workers might be at a higher risk for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Adventhealth Orlando NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Orlando, United States) |
| Project start | January 23, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $157,334 |
| NIH project number | 5K01DK134838-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10989886 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are adults who work night shifts and may be at risk for type 2 diabetes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not work shift hours or have no metabolic disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of shift work, particularly night shifts, on metabolic flexibility and the circadian clocks in skeletal muscle. It aims to understand how disrupted sleep patterns can lead to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes by examining metabolic processes in individuals who work different shifts. The study will involve controlled in-patient assessments using advanced metabolic chamber protocols to measure changes in metabolism and gene expression related to circadian rhythms. By linking these factors, the research seeks to uncover the underlying mechanisms that contribute to diabetes risk among shift workers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and management strategies for diabetes prevention in shift workers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that circadian disruption is linked to metabolic disorders, suggesting that this approach could yield significant insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Adventhealth Orlando
Orlando, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Erickson, Melissa — Adventhealth Orlando
- Study coordinator: Erickson, Melissa
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.