Personalized light and schedule program for shift workers
Real-world translation of a dynamic and personalized intervention for shift workers
A wearable-guided program that tailors light exposure, meal, and exercise timing to help shift workers reduce fatigue and improve mood and alertness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arcascope, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chantilly, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11132905 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would wear a consumer smartwatch (for example, an Apple Watch) so the program can estimate your internal body clock without blood or saliva tests. The app uses that timing to give personalized guidance about bright light, meals, and exercise to shift your melatonin and align your body to your work schedule. The intervention is delivered in real-world settings and adapts over time to your sleep and work patterns. Participants can follow the program remotely while tracking mood, fatigue, and performance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 or older who routinely work night or rotating shifts and can use a smartwatch and follow guidance on light, meals, and activity.
Not a fit: People who do not work shifts, have severe untreated sleep disorders, cannot use a smartwatch, or cannot change their light or mealtime routines are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lessen shift-related sleepiness and mood problems and improve daily performance and long-term health for night and rotating shift workers.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show bright light and timing strategies can improve sleep, mood, and alertness in shift workers, but using wearables to predict internal circadian time and personalize those strategies is a newer approach with less real-world testing.
Where this research is happening
Chantilly, United States
- Arcascope, INC — Chantilly, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Walch, Olivia — Arcascope, INC
- Study coordinator: Walch, Olivia
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 below.