Training in Sleep and Sleep Disorders

University Of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal for a training program in the area of sleep and its disorders. There is growing evidence of the prevalence of sleep disorders in the American population, and that problems related to inadequate sleep have a major impact on many aspects of our society. At a basic level, little is known about the fundamental mechanisms that control sleep and the function(s) of sleep. Thus, there is a major opportunity for scientific discovery. One of the barriers that is recognized to advancing the knowledge base in this area is the paucity of investigators, both those engaged in basic research and in patient-oriented research. This application describes a training program that is based on the relatively unique faculty resources and structure at the University of Pennsylvania for support of research in sleep and its disorders (the Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology). The proposal describes four specific training aspects that are intended to complete the matrix for training opportunities at the University of Pennsylvania in the area of research in sleep/sleep disorders. These four aspects are the following: a) a graduate program in neurobiology of sleep and circadian rhythm. This will be based on the highly successful and well developed Neuroscience Graduate Program. We will utilize, where appropriate, structures, courses and other resources developed by this group;b) a new graduate track in genomics/computational biology;c) a targeted MD/PhD program to train physician-scientists in sleep research. This aspect of our program will be based on the outstanding institutional MD/PhD program at the University of Pennsylvania;and d) a postdoctoral training program for nurse investigators. This will be based on the preeminent School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania. There are members of the tenured 'faculty at the School who are funded investigators in outcomes of sleep disorders. This, together with the other rich intellectual resources at the School of Nursing, provides a unique opportunity to develop a much needed national program to train nurse investigators in this area. All of these components of the program will utilize the extensive resources for research that have been developed by the Center for Sleep at the University of Pennsylvania.