Understanding delayed sleep-wake phase (night-owl sleep timing)
Pathophysiology of Circadian Rhythm Delayed Sleep Wake Phase Disorder
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO · NIH-11187054
This project tests whether detailed sleep and circadian measurements plus a new blood marker can explain and help treat delayed sleep-wake phase disorder in teens and adults.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11187054 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you have trouble falling asleep until very late and then can't wake up for school or work, researchers will monitor your sleep at home, collect blood and other samples, and measure body temperature to map your internal clock. You will come to the lab for two overnight protocols: a constant routine to precisely track central and body rhythms, and a nighttime light exposure session to see how light affects thinking and physiology. The team will compare brain and body rhythm timing and test whether a novel blood biomarker can predict your circadian phase. Cognitive tests and physiological monitoring during lab visits will show how circadian timing links to daytime functioning.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents and adults with chronic late sleep timing who struggle to fall asleep and wake at socially required times and who can travel to the Boulder, Colorado area for study visits.
Not a fit: People whose sleep problems are primarily caused by shift work, insomnia unrelated to circadian timing, or other medical or psychiatric conditions may not benefit from findings focused specifically on circadian-delayed sleep timing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more accurate diagnosis and better-timed treatments that improve sleep, daytime alertness, and quality of life for people with delayed sleep-wake phase disorder.
How similar studies have performed: Previous approaches like morning light and evening melatonin have shown mixed or limited benefits, and using detailed circadian mapping plus a blood biomarker is a relatively new approach built on promising preliminary human data.
Where this research is happening
Boulder, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO — Boulder, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: WRIGHT, KENNETH P — UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
- Study coordinator: WRIGHT, KENNETH P
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.