Federal Grant Award Summary

Rush University Medical Center received a $783,899 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), awarded July 5, 2026, with completion expected June 30, 2031. The grant funds a longitudinal research study examining the impact of early elementary school start times on sleep health, learning outcomes, and obesity in young children. The research will enroll 200 kindergarteners—stratified by chronotype (night owls versus morning larks) and school start time (early versus late)—and follow them through second grade to assess cumulative effects. Primary deliverables include annual measurements of sleep/wake behavior via wrist actigraphy, salivary melatonin analysis, validated sleep health and chronotype questionnaires, academic performance assessments in reading and mathematics, and attention measures, supplemented by parent-reported sleep quality and teacher-reported learning and attention ratings.

The study addresses a critical gap in evidence regarding potential adverse effects of early start times on young learners, particularly those with natural later sleep preferences, who represent approximately 30% of the pediatric population. By generating empirical data on circadian misalignment, sleep deprivation, and developmental outcomes, the research will provide evidence-based guidance for elementary school scheduling policies that currently shift to earlier start times to accommodate later start times for secondary students without demonstrated evidence of safety or impact on younger cohorts.