Center for Sleep Science

Optimizing Health Through Sleep

The Center for Sleep Science ties together accomplished investigators in clinical, human, translational, and preclinical research who share an overarching mission to help patients with sleep disorders.

Student exhausted from studying

Normal health, development, and performance require normal sleep. However, millions of Americans fail to get an adequate night's sleep due to sleep disorders. Such disorders contribute to depression, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, learning disorders, chronic pain, and motor vehicle accidents. Research increasingly shows that disordered sleep and circadian rhythms have enormous impact on quality of life, productivity, pregnancy, childhood development, and aging. The cost implications are substantial, for our society, country, states, local communities, institutions, businesses, and families.

Explore the Center for Sleep Science

About

We represent a campus-wide affiliation of faculty with major research interest in sleep, biological rhythms, their fundamental importance to human health, and the illnesses that disrupt them.

Patient Care

The University of Michigan Sleep Disorders Center is one of the nation’s leading programs, and among the oldest and largest, with nearly 10,000 clinic visits.

Education

Education is a central mission of Center for Sleep Science faculty. The UM Sleep Disorders Center offers a one-year, ACGME-approved fellowship in sleep medicine.

People

The UM Center for Sleep Science is an affiliation of faculty who seek to advance understanding of normal sleep physiology and the diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment of sleep illnesses.

A man with a beard lies peacefully asleep on a bed, surrounded by soft white bedding.
Our Goal

Understanding Healthy Sleep

The main goal of the University of Michigan Center for Sleep Science is to advance knowledge and understanding in three areas:

The physiology of normal sleep and biological rhythms.
Diagnosis of sleep disorders.
Treatment of sleep illnesses.

Sleep medicine is a relatively new field. Despite rapid advances, the public and academic medicine remain largely unaware of the central importance of adequate sleep. Moreover, much remains unknown about the mechanisms that underlie both healthy sleep and the illnesses that prevent it.

The UM Center for Sleep Science spans several schools and more than a dozen departments. Its members include more than 70 faculty with an active interest in sleep and rhythms research. The Center for Sleep Science ties together accomplished investigators in clinical, human, translational, and preclinical research who share an overarching mission to help patients with sleep disorders realize better health, productivity, and quality of life through better sleep.

Featured News

Department News

Fall asleep faster using these science-backed tips

Here are some tips we have collected from sleep experts and evolving sleep research to help you get a better night’s rest.
Department News

7 Tips to Sleep Better With Menopause

If menopause symptoms keep you up, make an appointment to see your doctor. In the meantime, try these lifestyle changes and smart sleep strategies to rest easy.
Department News

Obstructive sleep apnea impacts women differently. Here’s how—and why that matters.

Dr. Shelgikar says. Perhaps less discussed is how untreated sleep apnea affects our ability to care for ourselves and maintain relationships.
Department News

5 Ways You’re Sabotaging Your Sleep

Many of us have trouble falling and staying asleep — and for some, it’s more than occasional.
Department News

Sleep-Breathing Problems in Severe Spina Bifida Occur Earlier in Life Than Previously Known

Co-senior author Dr. Ronald Chervin states the study addresses a critical gap in understanding the prevalence and onset of sleep and breathing disturbances.
Department News

Do Ann Arbor school start times ‘work against biology’? Advocates looking to change them say yes.

One Ann Arbor high school student’s push to get district leaders to re-evaluate pushing forward the start of class each morning.