National Center on Sleep Disorders Research

Sleep disorders and sleep deficiency encompass many medical fields, requiring multidisciplinary approaches to identify specific risks to health, develop diagnostic tools, and improve therapies. This research involves a spectrum of experts at every level of study (molecular biologists, geneticists, physiologists, developmental and behavioral scientists), and many areas of medicine (psychiatry, immunology, pediatric, pulmonary, and cardiology).

NCSDR activities include the following:

• NCSDR administers sleep and circadian research projects related to the regulation of sleep and sleep disorders and the etiology and treatment of heart, lung, and blood diseases. 
• Studies to determine how the brain controls breathing during sleep, and the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sleep disordered breathing.
• NCSDR serves a Sleep Research Coordinating Committee made up of program representatives NIH-wide to facilitate the discussion of sleep and circadian research activities and research.
• A Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board consisting of sleep and circadian experts, sleep disorder patients, and Federal officials meets publicly twice each year with NCSDR and NIH sleep and circadian program representatives to discuss sleep and circadian research needs and opportunities. 
• NCSDR curates the NIH National Sleep Disorders Research Plan with input from the the Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board, trans-NIH Sleep Research Coordinating Committee, and public to highlight selected opportunities for scientific advance.

View funding announcements for Sleep Science and Sleep Disorders. Sign up for updates through the NIH Listserv.

Developing new scientists in sleep, circadian biology, and sleep disorders research is a major undertaking. The Center administers sleep and circadian research training and career development programs serving institutions and postdoctoral individuals nationwide.

As part of its efforts to ensure that research advances are utilized by health care providers, the Center has supported the development of medical school sleep disorder curricula and durable educational materials. A Sleep Academic Award (SAA) program – which was conducted in three concurrent cycles from 1996 to 2002 – improved the quality of medical school education on sleep disorders at 20 sites nationwide. A subsequent funding opportunity is supporting research to develop sleep education programs for patients and caregivers.

View the full listing of projects on NIH RePORTER funded through the SAA program.

The Center seeks to ensure that research results lead to health benefits. It works towards this goal by educating health care professionals about sleep disorders and research findings, and translating sleep health and disorders research findings for patients and their families.

The NHLBI publications and resources for health care professionals summarizing the latest sleep science and clinical care best practices, as well as educational materials that can be shared with patients and their families to help answer some of their questions on sleep and sleep disorders. View the NHLBI Online Catalog.

The NHLBI also has online science-based, plain-language health information on sleep-related Health Topics for patients, caregivers, and the public, including:

• CPAP
• Insomnia (En Español)
• Narcolepsy
• Sleep Apnea (En Español)
• Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency
• Sleep Studies

Other Resources

• High School Biology Curriculum Supplement: Sleep, Sleep Disorders, and Biological Rhythms 

The NCSDR serves as point-of-contact at for researchers, professional societies, non-governmental stakeholders (public, private, and nonprofit groups), and other Federal agencies interested in NIH sleep research activities. The Center seeks to facilitate, disseminate, and coordinate these activities as a subject matter expert and encourage cooperation, especially in crosscutting areas. It also seeks to improve communication among scientists, policymakers, and health care professionals.

Federal Agencies

• National Institutes of Health
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
    • Michael Twery, Ph.D.
    • Aaron Laposky, Ph.D.
    • Marishka Brown, Ph.D.
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
    • Soundar Regunathan, Ph.D.
  • National Institute of Aging
    • Mack Mackiewicz, Ph.D.
  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
    • James Witter
  • National Cancer Institute
    • Ann O'Mara, Ph.D., R.N.
    • Paige Green, Ph.D., M.P.H.
    • Todd Horowitz, Ph.D.
    • Kara Hall, Ph.D.
    • Joanna Watson, Ph.D.
    • Dan Xi, Ph.D
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development
    • Alison Cernich, Ph.D.
    • Karen Lee
  • National Eye Institute
    • Tom Greenwell, Ph.D.
  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
    • Lanay Mudd, Ph.D.
    • Robin Boineau, Ph.D.
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
    • Conrad Mallia, Ph.D.
  • National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disease
    • Karen Teff, Ph.D.
    • Corinne Silva, Ph.D.
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse
    • Harold Gordon, Ph.D.
  • National Institute of Mental Health
    • Aleksandra Vicentic, Ph.D.
  • National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
    • Rina Das, Ph.D.
    • Nancy Jones, Ph.D.
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
    • Janet He, Ph. D
  • National Institute of Nursing Research
    • Michelle Hamlet, Ph.D.
    • Yvonne Bryan, Ph.D.
  • Office for Research on Women's Health
    • Gretchen Buckler, M.D.
  • Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
    • Dana Schloesser, Ph.D.

• 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
• National Science Foundation
• U.S. Department of Labor
• U.S. Department of Defense
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs