Respiratory Sleep Disorders Research Unit

Respiratory sleep disorders affect more than 100,000 people in BC, with significant costs to the health care system and to the quality of life for those affected. A patient with a respiratory sleep disorder may stop breathing hundreds of times during the night, waking momentarily each time breathing resumes. As a result, they chronically get very little sleep.

Leader:

  • John Fleetham, MB, BS, MRCS, LRCP, FRCPC
    University of British Columbia

Members:

  • Stella Atkins, PhD
    Simon Fraser University
  • Najib Ayas, MD, MPH
    University of British Columbia
  • Keith Chambers, MD
    Vancouver Coastal Health
  • Mark FitzGerald, MB BCh, MRCPI, FRCPC
    University of British Columbia
  • Jonathan Fleming, MB, FRCPC
    University of British Columbia
  • Mieke Koehoorn, PhD
    University of British Columbia
  • Alan Lowe, FCDS, PhD
    University of British Columbia
  • Carlo Marra, PhD, PharmD
    Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
  • Ralph Mistlberger, PhD
    Simon Fraser University
  • Jeremy Road, MD, FRCPC
    University of British Columbia
  • Frank Ryan, MB BCh, MRCPI, FRCPC
    University of British Columbia
  • Andrew Sandford, PhD
    University of British Columbia
  • Pearce Wilcox, MD
    University of British Columbia

Respiratory sleep disorders affect more than 100,000 people in BC, with significant costs to the health care system and to the quality of life for those affected. A patient with a respiratory sleep disorder may stop breathing hundreds of times during the night, waking momentarily each time breathing resumes. As a result, they chronically get very little sleep.

Respiratory sleep disorders are composed of four distinct syndromes:

In addition to the intellectual impairment and personality changes that can result from chronic sleep deprivation, respiratory sleep disorders predispose people to heart disease and premature death. However, the causes remain unclear, and the economic and occupational consequences are poorly understood.

The Respiratory Sleep Disorders Research Unit (part of the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute) will use MSFHR funding to investigate the causes of respiratory sleep disorders, assess the adverse health, societal and economic impacts, and develop new technologies to diagnose and treat patients. The unit will focus on five research areas:

Award term completed September 2009.