AGENDA

SLEEP & CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS IN CARDIOVASCULAR RESILIENCE:

Mechanisms, Implications, & Applications 

Virtual Workshop, April 24 & April 26, 2024

OBJECTIVES:

• To delineate the contribution of sleep and circadian rhythms in cardiovascular resilience (briefly 

described here as the ability of the cardiovascular resilience system to maintain or return to 

homeostasis following perturbation). 

• To identify the potential mechanisms underpinning these relationships.

• To explore strategies for promoting cardiovascular resilience by optimizing sleep and circadian rhythm 

in general and at critical points throughout the lifespan when the risk of cardiovascular disease may be 

particularly increased.

CO-CHAIRS:

• Dr. Michael Grandner, PhD, MTR, CBSM, FAASM, University of Arizona

• Dr. Brooke Aggarwal, EdD, MS, FAHA, Columbia University 

• Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, MD, ScM, FACC, FAHA, Northwestern University

DAY ONE: 

Wednesday, April 24, 2024 | 10:00am – 4:30pm EDT

10:00 – 10:20 am Welcome and Opening Remarks 

Conceptualizing resilience and cardiovascular resilience from the NHLBI and 

NIH perspectives

Dr. David Goff, MD, PhD, FACP, FAHA, NHLBI Perspectives

Dr. Zorina Galis, PhD, Trans-NIH Resilience Program

Dr. Marishka Brown, PhD, Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Programs

Session 1: The Interplay of Sleep, Circadian Rhythms, and Cardiovascular Resilience

Moderator: Dr. Don Lloyd-Jones, MD, ScM, FACC, FAHA

10:20 – 10:40 am Defining Cardiovascular Resilience and the Role of Sleep: A Cardiovascular 

Resilience Researcher’s Perspective 

Dr. Don Lloyd-Jones, MD, ScM, FACC, FAHA, Northwestern University

10:40 – 11:00 am Social Determinants of Sleep Health from 2017-2020: Exploring the Intersection of 

Race and Gender

Dr. Stephanie Cook, DrPH, New York University
AGENDA

DAY 1 CONT.

SESSION 1 CONT. | SESSION 2 BEGINS

11:00 – 11:20 am Integrating Chrononutrition and Sleep: A Pathway to Atherosclerosis Management 

and Cardiovascular Resilience

Dr. Jose Ordovas, PhD, Tufts University

11:20 – 11:40 am The Role of Sleep in Cardiovascular Resilience, Cardiovascular and Comparative 

Biology, and Aging

Dr. Pamela Lutsey, PhD, MPH, University of Minnesota

11:40 – 12:00 pm Conceptualizing Cardiovascular Resilience

Dr. Victoria Bautch, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

12:00 – 12:30 pm Q&A for Speakers

Summary by Moderator

12:30 – 1:00 pm LUNCH BREAK

Session 2: Mechanisms Linking Sleep and Circadian Rhythms to Cardiovascular Resilience

Moderator: Dr. Brooke Aggarwal, EdD, MS, FAHA

1:00 – 1:20 pm Overview of Potential Mechanisms Linking Sleep and Circadian Rhythms to 

Cardiovascular Resilience

Dr. Brooke Aggarwal, EdD, MS, FAHA, Columbia University Irving Medical Center

1:20 – 1:40 pm Impact of Sleep and Circadian Disruption on Cardiovacular Outcomes from 

Controlled Clinical Studies 

Dr. Josiane Broussard, PhD, Colorado State University

1:40 – 2:00 pm Conceptualizing Circadian Health and Applications to Cardiovascular Resilience

Dr. Philip Cheng, PhD, Henry Ford Health

2:00 – 2:20 pm Toward Mechanisms of Circadian Resilience in Cells and Synapses

Dr. Jonathan Lipton, MD, PhD, Harvard University
AGENDA

DAY 1 CONT. | DAY 2 BEGINS

SESSION 2 ENDS | SESSION 3 BEGINS

2:20 – 2:50 pm Q&A for Speakers

2:50 – 3:00 pm BREAK

3:00 – 3:20 pm Mechanisms of Increased Cardiovascular Risk in Insufficient Sleep

Dr. Sanja Jelic, MD, Columbia University Medical Center

3:20 – 3:40 pm Sleep and Leukocyte Dynamics in Cardiovascular Disease 

Dr. Filip Swirski, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

3:40 – 4:00 pm Multilevel Determinants of Sleep and Cardiovascular Disparities: The Role 

of Risk and Resilience

Dr. Dayna Johnson, PhD, MPH, Emory University

4:00 – 4:30 pm Q&A for Speakers

Summary by Moderator

DAY TWO: 

Friday, April 26, 2024 | 10:00am – 4:30pm EDT

Session 3: Sleep and Circadian Interventions for Cardiovascular Resilience

Moderator: Dr. Michael Grandner, PhD, MTR, CBSM, FAASM

10:00 – 10:20 am Overview: Sleep and Circadian Interventions for Cardiovascular Resilience

Dr. Michael Grandner, PhD, MTR, CBSM, FAASM, University of Arizona

10:20 – 10:40 am Use of Light and Chronopharmacology to Improve Cardiovascular Resilience 

Dr. Fabian Fernandez, PhD, University of Arizona

10:40 – 11:00 am Opportunities for Improving Sleep to Support Cardiovascular Resilience

Dr. Aric Prather, PhD, University of California, San Francisco
AGENDA

DAY 2 CONT.

SESSION 3 CONT. | SESSION 4 BEGINS

11:00 – 11:20 am System-Level Approaches to Improve Sleep Health and Cardiovascular Resilience 

Dr. Nicole Bowles, PhD, Oregon Health and Science University

11:20 – 11:40 am Q&A for Speakers

11:40 – 11:50 am BREAK

11:50 – 12:10 pm Behavioral Sleep Health Promotion Strategies to Promote Cardiovascular Resilience 

Dr. Kelly Baron, PhD MPH, DBSM, University of Utah

12:10 – 12:30 pm Sleep Optimization: Implications for Cardiometabolic Risk and Resilience

Dr. Esra Tasali, MD, University of Chicago

12:30 – 1:00 pm Q&A for Speakers

Summary by Moderator

Discussion: Incorporating cardiovascular resilience measures into sleep research 

interventions and vice versa. How to incorporate CVD outcomes within sleep 

research? Gaps towards developing mechanistic links – what formative research is 

needed? How to include sex as a biological variable in mechanistic research?

1:00 – 1:30 pm LUNCH BREAK

Session 4: Charting the Future of Sleep Health and Cardiovascular Resilience Research; Bringing 

Together Perspectives from the Fields of Sleep Health, Resilience, and Cardiovascular Research

Moderators: All Co-Chairs

1:30 – 1:50 pm Future Directions for Research Examining Sleep and Cardiovascular Resilience

Dr. Ali Azarbarson, PhD, Harvard University

1:50 – 2:10 pm Future Directions for Translational Research Exploring Sleep and Circadian Rhythms 

Dr. Ron Anafi, MD, PhD, University of Pennsylvania

2:10 – 2:30 pm Host Resilience to Prevent Diabetes-associated Vascular Complications

Dr. Qing Miao, PhD, New York University Long Island School of Medicine
AGENDA

DAY 2 CONT.

SESSION 4 ENDS

2:30 – 2:50 pm Epigenetic Studies and Protection Against Age-related Diseases

Dr. Rene Cortese, PhD, ATSF, University of Missouri

2:50 – 3:10 pm The Impact of Stress and Insomnia on Cardiovascular Functioning

Dr. Ivan Vargas, PhD, University of Arkansas

3:10 – 3:20 pm BREAK

3:20 – 3:40 pm Q&A for Speakers

Discussion #1: Next steps, critical gaps and a research agenda

3:40 – 4:00 pm Discussion #2: Strategies for stimulating partnerships and leveraging cutting edge 

technologies 

4:00 – 4:20pm Discussion #3: Implementation of sleep and circadian principles and resilience into 

healthcare, and the role of sex/gender, age, and other factors

4:20 – 4:30 pm Closing Remarks and Future Perspectives

Co-Chairs

WORKSHOP ORGANIZERS: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTES (NHLBI),

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH) 

Dr. Yunling Gao, PhD, Program Director

Vascular Biology and Hypertension Branch 

Division of Cardiovascular Sciences (DCVS)

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Email: gaoy2@nhlbi.nih.gov

Dr. Alfonso Alfini, PhD, MS, Program Director

Sleep Disorders Medicine

National Center on Sleep Disorders Research

Division of Lung Diseases

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Email: alfonso.alfini@nih.gov