Grant: Team Grant: Sleep and Circadian Rhythms

Approximately one in four Canadians are affected by significant sleep problems that can diminish their health, alertness and safety. Also, up to one in five Canadians works shifts and can suffer the consequences of poor sleep because of disruption of their biological clock. Insufficient or disrupted sleep is associated with a number of prevalent acute and chronic health problems including difficulties in breathing (sleep apnea), cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks, hypertension, stroke and heart failure), obesity, diabetes, cancer and depression. Prioritizing optimum sleep and adequate rest is now recognized as an essential part of well-being and health. However, understanding the mechanisms underlying the associations of sleep and biological clock disturbances in acute and chronic health problems is relatively new science. Major advances in understanding the biology of sleep and circadian rhythm disorders and their consequences to health is best achieved by collaborative trans-disciplinary programs to increase the capacity for research, education and knowledge transfer. Such capacity building needs to occur beyond the boundaries of established disciplines that traditionally do not consider sleep or body rhythms, despite their established influence on health. Currently, the training of basic science and clinical researchers, health care and education professionals in sleep and biological rhythms related to health and disease is inadequate, largely because of the lack of educational curricula, formal training programs and collaborative research. This application will establish trans-disciplinary team research and a superior training program to bring new science, technologies, researchers and trainees into the field, and so establish the fields of sleep and biological rhythms in the mainstream of other scientific and clinical disciplines to promote health and well-being, and the better recognition and management of sleep problems and their consequences.