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

What Should We Actually Do With Daylight Saving Time?

The first few days following this springtime change are associated with an increase in heart attacks, strokes, and motor vehicle accidents.
Department News

Waking up exhausted every day? Sleep experts explain what may be going on

A full night’s sleep doesn’t always leave you feeling rested. People experiencing it may wake up exhausted despite spending enough hours in bed.
Department News

Where Sleep Medicine Is Heading After SLEEP 2026: Anita Shelgikar, MD, MHPE

Dr. Shelgikar, professor of neurology at the University of Michigan Medical School discussed the themes that defined SLEEP 2026, and what they signal for clinical practice heading into 2027
Department News

Couples’ Snoring Solutions Guide: Here’s What Causes Snoring and How to Stop It Disrupting Your Sleep

Dr. Ronald Chervin, a professor of neurology and sleep medicine at the University of Michigan, explained the mechanics.
Department News

The sleep habits that help you wake up without an alarm

Waking up naturally can be surprisingly easy, if you take care of other sleep essentials.
Department News

Melatonin and Magnesium: Supplements for Better Sleep

Research shows that melatonin and magnesium may help with sleep issues, but they have caveats and should be discussed with a doctor before use.