EU FP6 Marie Curie Research Training Network: The biomedical and sociological effects of sleep restriction

The aim of the project is to identify factors (molecular, physiological, behavioural, sociological) causing sleep loss and clarify the physiological and behavioural consequences of sleep loss. How age, gender and social context impact on these responses will be investigated among both women and men at different stages of the life course. Also, we will assess how the response to sleep loss is associated with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. These findings will help to alleviate the detrimental consequences of sleep loss and effectively treat sleep disorders, improve the quality of life, promote healthy ageing and help people to stay employed longer.

This project is funded by the EU for four years (2005-2009).

Chronobiology Research staff involved in the Marie Curie Network are: Dr Katrin Ackermann, Katharina Lederle, Prof Debra Skene, Dr Tracey Sletten, Sophie Wehrens

Training in sleep research is being undertaken in 5 areas, Sociology at the University of Surrey, Chronobiology at University of Surrey, The Institute of Biomedicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, and the University of Zurich.

EU FP6 (Intregrated Project) EUCLOCK Entrainment of the circadian clock

The project aims at the investigation of the circadian clocks in single cells and in humans. EUCLOCK combines the expertise of 34 chronobiologists from 29 institutions in 11 European countries. EUCLOCK's budget is more than 16 million EUR over 5 years (2006-2010), of which 12 million are a contribution by the European Union.

The Chronobiology Group at Surrey contribute primarily to Sub-Project 1: Entrainment in humans Dr Victoria Revell co-ordinates the research activities of the Surrey group.

SomnIA: Optimising quality sleep among older people in the community

This four year cross-council funded project under the New Dynamics of Ageing Research Programme will be undertaking multi-disciplinary research involving partners in four institutions (Surrey, Loughborough, Bath and Kings College, London), led by CRAG.

Project duration: December 2006 - November 2010

Chronobiology Research staff involved in the SomnIA programme are: Daniel Barrett, Dr Samantha Hopkins, Benita Middleton, Lloyd Morgan, Prof Debra Skene.

www.somnia.surrey.ac.uk

Philips Lighting

Dr Luc Schlangen and Philips Lighting are partners in the SomnIA programme. They are providing funding to supply and install novel lighting in care homes for older people. Lighting units have also been supplied to study sleep and alertness in older people living in the community.

Diabetes UK

Johnston JD (PI), Robertson MD, Skene DJ Diabetes-UK Project Grant (2008-09) Are daily rhythms of adipokine synthesis and secretion abnormal in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus?

Wellcome Trust Arts Awards

Black Tonic (Katie Day, The Other Way Works, PI, D.J. Skene), 2008-2009.

To Be First AG

D.J. Skene (PI), V. Revell (2008 - 2009) The effect of cranial electrical stimulation (CES) on nocturnal plasma melatonin levels.