The University of Kentucky’s Julie Pendergast, Ph.D., and a team of researchers are exploring how disruptions to our body’s natural circadian rhythms and sleep impact health.

“Overwhelming evidence suggests that irregular circadian and sleep patterns, such as inconsistent bedtimes, wake times and eating schedules, are linked to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, metabolic disorders, cancer and reduced longevity,” said Pendergast, associate professor in the Department of Biology in the UK College of Arts and Sciences.

Her research program, within the Emerging Themes for Research program, is called “Circadian and Sleep Health for a Healthy Kentucky (CASH-KY)” and the team also includes Ming Gong, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Physiology in the UK College of Medicine, and Vincent Cassone, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Biology.

“You’ve probably heard people say, ‘I’m a night owl, or I’m an early bird.’ There is nothing inherently wrong with being either, but problems arise when an early bird must stay up until 11 p.m. working late or a night owl has to wake up at 6 a.m. to take the kids to school,” Pendergast said.

“We also know that consistently sleeping fewer than five hours a night is associated with poor health. In animal models, we can directly observe how disrupting sleep and circadian rhythms causes these negative outcomes.”

UK is home to scientists studying rhythms and sleep across eight colleges and 24 departments.  

“For decades, UK has been a hub of circadian rhythm and sleep research and it’s growing,” Pendergast said. CASH-KY aims to unite existing groups to establish a nationally recognized center for circadian rhythms and sleep to secure major funding and recruit top faculty and trainees.

CASH-KY is also working to engage with the community through listening sessions and conversations with individuals about how they can improve their sleep and rhythms. Pendergast says helping people understand that simple changes in their routines, such as a short walk in the morning, can improve overall health.

The initiative receives internal support from the Office of the Vice President for Research’s Emerging Themes Program, part of the Research Leadership Academy, which Pendergast says will support faculty and trainees with interests in circadian rhythms and sleep research form collaborations, navigate grant writing and engage with the community.

“UK is a great place for research in any field,” Pendergast said. “I have never been at an institution as collaborative and supportive as UK. People are genuinely interested in making scientific discoveries and getting that information to the community. We are excited about the opportunity to make circadian rhythms and sleep a highlight at UK.”

About the Emerging Themes for Research program
Pendergast is one of six UK researchers participating in the Research Leadership Academy’s Emerging Themes for Research program. The purpose of the program is to support emerging research that creates, grows and sustains a healthier, wealthier and wiser Kentucky. Learn more.