National Center on Sleep Disorders Research

The National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (NCSDR) promotes sleep and circadian scientific advances, from laboratory research to clinical practice, to improve scientific knowledge, transform health care, and advance public health and safety and the well-being of the nation.

The NCSDR works toward achieving its mission in the following ways:

• Advancing scientific knowledge in essential research areas including chronobiology, neurophysiology, gene expression, epigenetics, and proteostatis. 
• Transforming health care using chronomedicine, clinical interventions, and patient-centered strategies, including measuring epidemiological risks and risk stratification.
• Advancing well-being by considering the impact of social determinants of health, health disparities, and individual and community-based interventions on health outcomes.
• Improving public health and safety by promoting sleep health awareness and related risk prevention at worksites, schools, housing and in transportation through technologies such as solid-state lighting.

One enduring strategy the NCSDR uses to achieve this mission is by fostering a strong and diverse workforce.

Sleep and Neurobiology

Contact: Lawrence Baizer, Ph.D., baizerl@mail.nih.gov

Prevention and Sleep Health

Contact: Shilpy Dixit, Ph.D., shilpy.dixit@nih.gov

Chronobiology and Ventilatory Control

Contact: Aaron D. Laposky, Ph.D., laposkya@nhlbi.nih.gov

Sleep Disorders Medicine

Contact: Alfonso Alfini, Ph.D., alfonso.alfini@nih.gov  

Sleep disorders, circadian biology, and sleep health relate to a multitude of biological systems, health conditions, and medical disciplines. That is why a coordinated and collaborative approach must be used to successfully advance sleep and circadian science, foster technology transfer, expand training, transform health care, and increase dissemination of health information to advance well-being and improve public health and safety.

The NCSDR serves as the point-of-contact for researchers, professional societies, non-governmental stakeholders (public, private, and nonprofit groups), and other Federal agencies interested in NIH sleep research activities.

The NCSDR director serves as the Executive Secretary of the SDRAB, an Advisory Board composed of Members and Ex Officio Members and led by a member-elected chairperson.  

The NCSDR leads the Trans-NIH Sleep Research Coordinating Committee, a forum to discuss and consider potential opportunities for programmatic coordination of biological and circadian rhythms research and other sleep-related research, training, and health information dissemination. Participating institutes, centers, and offices include: NHLBI, NIAAA, NIA, NCI, NIGMS, NICHD, NCCIH, NIAID, NIDDK, NIDA, NIMH, NIMHD, NINDS, NINR, ORWH, OBSSR, and ODS.

The NCSDR fosters the coordination of sleep and circadian research among other Federal agencies, including:

• Bureau of the Census
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration/U.S. Department of Transportation
• U.S. Department of Labor
• U.S. Department of Defense
• U.S. Department of Energy
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

The NCSDR director and staff meet regularly with sleep and circadian researchers, professional societies, and other stakeholders to gather feedback and offer updates.

NCSDR works to turn research findings into health information that benefits the public. It does this, in part, by educating healthcare professionals about the results of sleep disorders research and offering resources they can share with their patients and families.

The NHLBI Online Catalog lists all NHLBI publications and resources for healthcare professionals, including summaries of the latest sleep science and clinical care best practices. It also lists educational materials that help answer patients’ questions about sleep and sleep disorders.

The NHLBI website features health information on sleep-related health topics for patients, caregivers, and the public. To find links to topics such as insomnia, sleep deprivation and deficiency, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and sleep studies, go to the Sleep Health webpage and click on the Health Topics icon. You can also find there a link to Your Guide to Healthy Sleep, as well as information about participating in a clinical trial.