# Timing of Physical Activity on Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes

> **NIH NIH K99** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2021 · $134,795

## Abstract

Project Summary
Regular physical activity induces specific adaptive responses in various tissues, and ultimately improves health
and reduces the risk for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. To improve the efficacy of physical activity,
many studies have examined the impacts of intensity, duration, frequency, and modality of physical activity on
the adaptive responses. However, timing of physical activity has been rarely considered. It is well-established
that the circadian timing system modulates cardiovascular function and metabolism, generating ~24-h rhythms
in these physiological functions that are in synchrony with the day-night cycle. Thus, physical activity at different
times of day may have different impacts on health due to the circadian control. Indeed, recent breakthrough
animal studies have shown time-of-day dependent effects of exercise on transcripts and metabolites enriched in
metabolic pathways that are related to exercise adaptations and, importantly, linked to the circadian system. We
hypothesize that timing of physical activity modulates the adaptive responses, and can thus be used to enhance
physical activity-induced health benefits. To address this hypothesis, during the K99 phase, I will first utilize the
dataset from an NIH-funded randomized controlled trial with lifestyle intervention and 1-week accelerometer
recording among approximately 2,200 patients with type 2 diabetes to examine 1) the association between timing
of physical activity and markers of cardiometabolic health at baseline, and 2) the association between timing of
physical activity and the improvements in markers of cardiometabolic health at 1-year follow-up. In the R00
phase, I will test the causal relationship by experimentally manipulating the timing of physical activity in
individuals with prediabetes using a randomized, cross-over design with two highly controlled in-laboratory
protocols. This innovative project will advance our knowledge in the interaction effects of the circadian timing
system and physical activity and may help in designing evidence-based lifestyle interventions incorporating
timing of physical activity. I am well suited to perform this research based on 1) my expertise in chronobiology,
physiology, and human experimental research; 2) the exceptional multi-disciplinary mentoring team comprised
of leaders in their respective fields; and 3) the unparalleled research environment to support my career
development. Through this study, I will further my training in circadian physiology, as well as expand my expertise
in exercise physiology, epidemiology, and clinical trial design. The proposed research and training will help
achieve my long-term goal of launching an independent research program dedicated to understanding the
interaction of the circadian system and physical activity from observational towards experimental study design.
The findings of this research have the potential to frame the basic strategy and recommendation of
c...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10241396
- **Project number:** 5K99HL148500-02
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Jingyi Qian
- **Activity code:** K99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $134,795
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10241396

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10241396, Timing of Physical Activity on Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes (5K99HL148500-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10241396. Licensed CC0.

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