Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Colorado-Denver received a $625,508 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847), effective April 1, 2026, with completion targeted for January 31, 2031. The award funds a randomized crossover trial investigating the cardiometabolic benefits of combined circadian rhythm advancement and sleep extension interventions in adolescents with overweight or obesity. The research employs a mechanistic probe design to evaluate the effects of these combined interventions versus typical sleep patterns on insulin sensitivity and energy balance, addressing a critical evidence gap regarding high-quality, free-living methodology studies in this population. Given the alarming prevalence of obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in today's adolescents and their associated early cardiovascular disease risk, this research directly supports NIDDK's programmatic focus on improving understanding and prevention of diabetes and metabolic disorders.

The research products delivered through this award include empirical data on the physiological mechanisms linking circadian misalignment and insufficient sleep to cardiometabolic impairment in adolescents, comparative effectiveness evidence for potential prevention and intervention approaches targeting sleep and circadian health, and peer-reviewed publications advancing the scientific foundation for addressing metabolic dysfunction in youth. The study builds upon the investigator team's prior successful sleep extension manipulation work and extends that evidence by simultaneously addressing both sleep duration and circadian timing—two factors previously shown to correlate with insulin resistance and glycemic variability in this population.