Sleep Medicine

Head of Discipline
Professor Peter Cistulli
Location
Royal North Shore Hospital

The Discipline of Sleep Medicine was established in 2009 in recognition of the development of the field into a new specialty of medicine. It is only in the last 50 years that scientists and physicians have embarked on the systematic study of the biology and disorders of sleep.

Remarkable advances in the neurophysiology of normal sleep and in circadian biology, the discovery of the genes that regulate these biological rhythms, and recognition of the interactions between sleep and almost all other body systems (eg. respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, neurological) have provided a scientific framework for the elucidation of the aetiology, pathogenesis, and potential treatment of sleep disorders.

These scientific advances have emanated from diverse clinical disciplines, such as internal medicine, neurology, otorhinolaryngology, paediatrics, psychiatry, dentistry, psychology, pulmonology, and nursing. However, this broad and diverse intellectual input, coupled with the service requirements for dealing with sleep disorders, has created difficulties in the co-ordination and planning of teaching, research and clinical services.

Recognition of around 100 distinct clinical disorders of sleep has created a platform and need for specialisation in the study of sleep biology (somnology) and sleep pathology (sleep medicine). The public health burden of sleep disorders and sleep deprivation and the remarkably limited capacity of health care systems to cope with demand is now recognised.

An Access Economics report estimated that 6% of the Australian population experiences sleep disorders, at a cost (direct and indirect) of $10.3 billion in 2004. The establishment of the Discipline of Sleep Medicine will facilitate the development of a strongly integrated and interdisciplinary educational and research model that capitalises on the enormous strength already existing within the faculty and university.

Facilities

Teaching and research facilities are available on the main campus and within the clinical schools, as well as affiliated research centres and institutes.

Areas of research

A diverse range of research programs cover the following themes:

• Neurobiology of sleep
• Chronobiology
• Adult and paediatric sleep & breathing disorders – mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment
• Clinical sleep medicine
• Behavioural sleep medicine
• Neuropsychology and psychiatric aspects of sleep
• Endocrine / metabolic / cardiovascular aspects of sleep
• Epidemiology of sleep loss and sleep disorders
• Shiftwork / workplace safety / fatigue
• Driver fatigue
• Sleep in pregnancy
• Primary care roles in sleep health
• Dental sleep medicine
• Sleep pharmacology and quality use of medications in sleep
• Medicolegal aspects of sleep disorders

Contact details

Professor Peter Cistulli
Head of Discipline

Phone: +61 2 9926 8674
Fax: +61 2 9906 6391
Email: