UK sleep scientists at awarded research grant

Some £2.6 million in research funding has been given to researchers at the University of Surrey for studies into how genetic makeup can affect sleep and waking.

A press release on BCM explained that two grants made up the £2.6 million total, which has been awarded to a team of circadian rhythm and sleep researchers by the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

Leader of the studies, Professor Derk-Jan Dijk, said it is "well known" that individuals' sleep is differently structured and that performance levels are at their highest during waking hours.

"These grants will allow us to characterise these differences in much greater detail and to relate them to genetic differences and molecular markers," he added.

Professor Dijk also said it is hoped that the research will lead to new treatments for sleep disorders.

Meanwhile, the continuing mystery of sleep patterns was noted again this week after a study into the core function of sleep was published in a biology journal, Science Daily reports.

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