Understanding and reducing racial sleep health gaps in preschoolers
Official title: Socio-ecological factors linked to co-occurring early childhood sleep health disparities and developmental outcomes
Funded at University of Oregon · NIH-11374740 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant focuses on why early childhood sleep problems are more common in Black/African American and other minoritized children and how these sleep gaps affect development, with plans to test practical, community-friendly ways to help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oregon NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Eugene, United States) |
| Project start | August 20, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $434,766 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL163798-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374740 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Preschool children aged 3 to 6 who experience or are at risk for sleep problems, particularly those from racially/ethnically minoritized backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Children without sleep problems or those unlikely to be affected by proposed interventions may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
The project looks at why preschool children from minoritized communities experience more sleep problems, such as sleep disordered breathing and not enough sleep, and how these issues relate to thinking, behavior, and social skills. Researchers will examine multiple layers of influence—from families and neighborhoods to school readiness—to identify modifiable factors. They aim to develop multi-level strategies tailored to communities to reduce disparities and improve developmental outcomes. The work will use data from children around ages 3 to 6 and involve collaborations with families to test feasible interventions in real-world settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to targeted strategies that reduce sleep-related disparities and support better neurobehavioral and social-emotional development for preschool children.
How similar studies have gone: There is existing evidence that sleep problems affect development, and this study builds on prior findings by focusing on racial disparities and multi-level interventions in early childhood.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oregon
Eugene, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williamson, Ariel a — University of Oregon
- Study coordinator: Williamson, Ariel a
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.