Sleep Research Studies
With funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the pharmaceutical industry, the Henry Ford Sleep Research Center is actively involved in sleep research studies that investigate various aspects of sleep and sleep health.
Below you'll find brief summaries of our ongoing sleep research studies, as well as information on how to participate:
- Clinical translation of phenotypes shift work disorder
- Safety and Efficacy of Chronic Hypnotic Use: Study 2
- Online Treatment Study for Difficult Sleepers
Clinical translation of phenotypes shift work disorder
Shift work disorder is a sleep disorder that usually affects individuals who work during the night and sleep during the day. Our internal biological clock (also known as our circadian rhythm) relies on light and darkness to know when our body should stay active or rest. When shift workers stay awake when it is dark, and try to sleep during daylight, this causes a misalignment between our internal clock and our work schedule. Symptoms of shift work disorder include feeling tired and sleepy during the work shift, sleeplessness during the day, excessive sleepiness, and insomnia. Shift work disorder can also cause “unsatisfactory” sleep, as well as deficits in attention, alertness and concentration. Anxiety and depression and other mood disorders may also be associated with poor sleep quality.
About the study: The Henry Ford Sleep Center is currently recruiting night shift workers for a study characterizing different causes of shift work sleep disorder. This study will include a brief screening visit, followed by 2 separate visits to the lab lasting between 25 and 33 hours. During lab visits, participants will be providing hourly saliva samples and completing cognitive tests and questionnaires. Participants will be compensated for their time. For more information, please fill out the following survey. If you have any questions, please contact Chaewon Sagong at (248) 344-2409.
Safety and efficacy of chronic hypnotic use: study 2
The purpose of this research study is to determine how safe and effective it is to use either of two different FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved sleeping medications on a nightly basis for six months. For many people insomnia is a chronic problem and they use their sleeping medications chronically, but studies have not thoroughly determined whether they remain effective and safe. This study will compare two commonly prescribed sleep medications which improve sleep, but do so through slightly different pathways in the brain.
Henry Ford Hospital’s Sleep Disorders Center is currently recruiting participants for this study. You may qualify if you meet the following criteria: have difficulty falling and/or staying asleep, are between the ages of 21 and 64, in general good health and have no chronic medical or psychiatric condition. Eligible women are not pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breast feeding during the study. This is a 6 month study, 1 overnight sleep study; other nights will be monitored at home and 10 daytime visits (approximately 30-45 minutes),one to two times per month. The study includes two FDA approved sleeping medications. Participants will be compensated. If interested email or call Gail (313) 916-5179 or Dana (313) 916-5302.
Online Treatment Study for Difficult Sleepers
We are seeking participants who have insomnia or difficulty sleeping for an online sleep research study. Qualified participants will take part in a 6-week online treatment program and will fill out five 35-minute surveys in the span of 2 years (No in-person visit will be required). Participants will be compensated for their time. If interested, please fill out this form to see if you qualify.
If you have any question, please email sleepresearch@hfhs.org.