Mission Statement: Sleep and circadian rhythms are fundamental aspects of human biology which broadly influence physiology and cellular function. Sleep and circadian disruptions are increasingly common in modern society, and increase risk of many diseases and negative health outcomes. Washington University researchers continue to make important contributions to our understanding of the role of sleep and circadian rhythms in diseases across the lifespan.
The Center on Biological Rhythms and Sleep (COBRAS) will increase the coordination and efficiency of this outstanding research community, with the overall goal of advancing science in sleep and circadian biology as it relates to human disease. COBRAS will support basic, translational, and clinical research in how sleep and circadian systems are altered in various human disease states; manipulation of sleep and circadian biology to influence pathogenesis and outcomes of various diseases; development of sleep and circadian biomarkers; how sleep and circadian systems can be leveraged therapeutically; and implementation of scientific discovery into practice and communities.
The objectives of COBRAS are to:
- Facilitate research and collaboration on circadian and sleep biology across Washington University.
- Provide expertise and cutting-edge sleep and circadian research tools to WUSTL researchers.
- Promote education in and awareness of sleep and circadian biology.
COBRAS will enable researchers across diverse specialties and departments to readily investigate the impact of sleep and circadian rhythms on their disease of interest. COBRAS will also serve as a platform for development of new collaborative projects and grants, and can serve as a core for existing programs.