Personalized light and schedule program for shift workers
Official title: Real-world translation of a dynamic and personalized intervention for shift workers
Funded at Arcascope, INC · NIH-11132905 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $628,538 |
| NIH project number | 5R42HL163783-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132905 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Arcascope, INC
Chantilly, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Walch, Olivia — Arcascope, INC
- Study coordinator: Walch, Olivia
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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.