Chris Depner Recognized at Vitae 2026 for Research on Sleep and Cardiometabolic Health
Key Points
- Chris Depner, PhD, recognized as a rising-star faculty member at Vitae 2026
- Presented research on sleep loss and its role in cardiometabolic disease risk
- Studies focus on circadian rhythms and practical interventions to improve health
Chris Depner, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology, was recognized as one of six rising-star faculty at Vitae 2026, a hallmark University of Utah Health symposium celebrating research excellence and innovation. Hosted by Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs and Development Michael Rubin, MD, PhD, in partnership with the University of Utah Health Research Office, the annual event highlights emerging leaders who are advancing science and shaping the future of health care. Depner presented his talk, “When Sleep Loss Becomes a Health Crisis,” sharing both the scientific foundation of his work and the personal journey that led him to the field.
Depner opened his presentation with a familiar sound—the morning alarm—using it to illustrate how modern life routinely cuts sleep short. He noted that about one in three adults in the United States does not get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night, framing insufficient sleep as a widespread and growing public health issue. Reflecting on his academic path, Depner described how his early research in nutritional biochemistry evolved to include the role of timing, emphasizing that when people eat can be just as important as what they eat in influencing metabolic health.
Central to his research is the body’s circadian clock, which regulates sleep, alertness, and metabolism in alignment with natural light and dark cycles. Depner explained how modern behaviors—such as late-night light exposure and around-the-clock food intake—can disrupt these rhythms. He shared findings from a camping study demonstrating that when participants were removed from artificial light, their internal clocks naturally realigned with sunrise and sunset, highlighting how modern environments can drive circadian misalignment and increase disease risk.
Depner also presented clinical research examining whether people can recover from sleep loss on weekends. While participants who caught up on sleep reported feeling more alert, their insulin sensitivity—a key marker of diabetes risk—remained impaired. Additional findings suggested that nighttime light exposure and late-night eating may further worsen metabolic outcomes during periods of insufficient sleep. Building on these insights, Depner and his team are leading ongoing NIH-funded studies to test whether extending sleep or modifying nighttime behaviors can improve metabolic health—even when sleep loss is unavoidable.
Depner’s work focuses on understanding how sleep deprivation disrupts metabolic and cardiovascular systems, with the goal of translating these findings into real-world solutions. His research combines clinical and behavioral science to develop practical, evidence-based strategies that promote healthier sleep patterns and reduce disease risk. As an emerging leader in sleep and circadian science, Depner is committed to bridging the gap between research and everyday health, helping individuals and communities improve long-term well-being.