Research

Sleep apnoea

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a common condition, characterised by repeated partial or complete collapse of the upper airway during sleep. Common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea include snoring, waking feeling unrefreshed and excessive daytime sleepiness.

OSA has serious health consequences and is linked to poor health outcomes, including contributing to cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes and insulin resistance, and decreased cognitive function and quality of life.

Our group examines a number of facets of this disease. Firstly we examine the mechanisms of OSA. This research primarily focuses on measuring collapsibility of the upper airway, which is performed during sleep and/or under general anaesthesia.

Work is also being conducted to examine the presence of sleep apnoea and depression in women during pregnancy and in the early postnatal period.

Sleep and performance

Sports performance

Most athletes would agree that for optimal sports performance, good sleep needs to be made a priority as it plays an integral role in the rest and recovery of the body. We have worked with a number of athletes, including the Western Force, Perth Lynx, Wildcats and the Australian Judo team, to examine sleep and performance in athletes.

Productivity

Inattention and fatigue due to sleep loss are often stated as significant factors associated with serious accidents. This is of particular interest to industries that revolve around shift work. The increased demand of work and long shifts, coupled with other factors that result in sleep loss, have severe safety consequences for the workplace and on the roads. This results in costly and preventable accidents.

Fatigue risk management

The Centre for Sleep Science works with transportation, mining and oil and gas industries that face huge challenges associated with managing alertness and fatigue while improving productivity and keeping costs to a minimum.

Sleep and health

Sleep-related problems affect millions of people around the world. The consequences of which have a major impact on the individual and society as a whole. While we are still working on untangling the mechanisms of sleep disorders, we do know that sleep is vital to our overall wellbeing and is closely linked with serious health and mood problems such as high blood pressure, obesity and depression.

For further information about sleep disorders, visit the Sleep Health Foundation.

Undergraduate and postgraduate sleep research

Honours Research Program

An appropriate undergraduate degree with a biological science emphasis and a minimum weighted average (WAM) of 65 per cent in Level 3 subjects that comprise the relevant major from an approved institution. Applicants will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Master's and PhD Research Program

An appropriate honours degree with a biological science emphasis and/or equivalent research experience from an approved institution. Applicants will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Contact the Centre for Sleep Science for detailed information on student research projects.

Get involved

Participate in research

When a research study involves human subjects, careful screening and evaluation of an individual’s medical history is required to determine their suitability for a project. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria are developed for each research project to ensure that appropriate research subjects are enrolled. These criteria are devised by research staff and medical personnel for safety purposes and to ensure researchers will be able to adequately devise conclusions based on the data collected.

Current research studies enrolling subjects:

• Do you have sleep apnoea?
• Do you have insomnia?
• Are you a healthy individual without any sleep problems?

If you are interested in participating in a study, email the Centre for Sleep Science to learn more about the study and for us to determine whether you are an appropriate candidate for participation.