Government of Canada invests in research to improve sleep for Canadians
News release
June 29, 2022 – Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Institutes of Health Research
In combination with diet and exercise, sleep is an important component of health promotion and wellness. Evidence suggests that up to one-third of Canadians are not getting enough sleep, with thousands of people suffering from insomnia and other sleep disorders.
Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, announced funding of $3.8 million to support research on sleep health and insomnia. The Government of Canada is supporting this initiative through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) in partnership with Eisai Limited and Mitacs.
Through this investment, a Consortium of two interdisciplinary research teams will identify biological and behavioural measures of sleep and sleep disorders and conduct clinical research into the prevention, detection and management of insomnia and other sleep disorders. The Consortium will also address healthy sleep practices as well as insomnia in the context of health disparities and the health and wellness of Indigenous Peoples and other populations, including children, youth and families.
Dr. Charles Morin, Professor of Psychology and Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Sleep Medicine at Université Laval’s Brain Research Centre will lead the Consortium and mental health program. Dr. Penny Corkum at Dalhousie University will lead the sleep across the life cycle program. The Consortium will develop, evaluate, validate, and implement interventions that foster better sleep health and wellness. Through its work, the Consortium will accelerate the mobilization of research evidence to bridge gaps between research discoveries and improved health outcomes.
The Consortium research teams will be supported by a novel Coordination and Knowledge Mobilization Centre (CKMC) that will harmonize several cross-cutting themes as well as create a strong governance structure. The CKMC will enable streamlined mobilization of research results to improve the sleep health and wellness of people living in Canada.
Quotes
“Sleep is crucial to leading a healthy life. This funding to support the work of Dr. Morin and Dr. Corkum will improve our understanding of sleep health and contribute to the development of targeted treatments that will help Canadians get a restful sleep and support their health and overall well-being.”
The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
“This partnered investment in sleep research will bring together interdisciplinary teams to answer important sleep hygiene and insomnia questions by generating new scientific knowledge which can be efficiently adopted into practice. It’s another example of our commitment to ensuring that research discoveries will benefit all Canadians.”
Dr. Brian H. Rowe
Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health
Quick facts
-
Insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep) is the most prevalent of all sleep disorders.
-
Disrupted sleep is on the rise as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, economic stressors, world conflicts, and other global issues.
-
Sleep is identified as a serious concern for Indigenous communities. Sleep disorders have also been linked to racial disparities, certain sex/age groups (e.g., menopausal and perimenopausal women) and across the lifecycle.
-
The research supported by this $3.8 million investment will inform clinical practice and deliver resources directly to people with insomnia, to schools and universities, work settings, Indigenous communities, hospitals, and other care settings.
Associated links
Contacts
Marie-France Proulx
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
613-957-0200
Media Relations
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) we know that research has the power to change lives. As Canada's health research investment agency, we collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.
Page details
- Date modified: