Sleep Health in Quadriplegia (SHiQ)
Optimising Sleep in Quadriplegia: Mechanisms and Management
Lead Chief Investigator, Application: The Late Professor Robert Pierce, Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, VIC
Lead Chief Investigator, Implementation: Dr David Berlowitz, Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, VIC
Chief Investigators:
Associate Professor Doug Brown, Austin Health, VIC
Professor Peter Cistulli, Centre for Sleep Health & Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW
Professor Graeme Jackson, Brain Research Institute, Austin Health, VIC
Dr Fergal O'Donoghue, Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, VIC
Professor Paul Kennedy, National Spinal Injuries Centre & University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Associate Professor Gerard Kennedy, Victoria University, VIC
Professor Meg Morris, University of Melbourne, VIC
Professor Don Campbell, Monash University, VIC
Professor Simon Gandevia, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, NSW
Administering Organisation: Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Bowen Centre. Austin Hospital
VNI Funding: $4,999,978
Program Summary:
Most patients with quadriplegia have poor sleep quality which impacts on their daily functioning, quality of life and recovery from injury. This program will address how the sleep of people with quadriplegia can be assessed, managed and improved.
We will use our unique national and international collaborations between sleep and spinal clinical researchers to systematically investigate the mechanisms and management of the major causes, develop novel treatments and translate that research into improved outcomes for the sleep problems in quadriplegia.
The program will work with consumers, scientists and clinicians to ensure that this knowledge is translated into improved care. Both immediately after injury and in chronic quadriplegia the research program will investigate the utility of pharmaceutical and physical treatments.
The anatomical determinants of sleep apnoea in quadriplegia will be explored using cutting edge imaging technology and detailed studies of upper airway and pulmonary mechanics.
Good sleep is an essential element of a good life. Humans are asleep for almost one third of their lives, yet sleep in quadriplegia has received very little attention in research circles outside of Victoria. Our research group has previously characterised the sleep problems of those living with quadriplegia across the spectrum from acute injury to the community and demonstrated that sleep disorders impair daytime functioning and compromise quality of life.
In Victoria we are now uniquely positioned to meet these challenges by creating new knowledge and developing innovative treatments which will yield dramatic benefits in functional and rehabilitation outcomes.
Program Website: www.shiq.com.au
