The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation (AASM Foundation) has chosen three sleep scientists to receive career development awards. Their research projects will explore slow wave sleep after stroke, mechanisms of cataplexy, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in World Trade Center responders.

“The AASM Foundation works to enhance sleep health for all by funding quality research,” said AASM Foundation President Jennifer L. Martin, PhD. “I congratulate the award recipients for their valuable contributions to the fields of sleep medicine.”

Eric Landsness, MD, PhD – Washington University – St. Louis
Dr. Landsness was selected to receive a Physician Scientist Training award for his project, “Focal Slow Wave Sleep in Brain Repair and Recovery After Stroke.” He will receive $100,000 over 1 year. This award is aimed at understanding the role of focal slow wave sleep in repair and recovery after focal ischemic brain injury. His project will involve using chemogenetics to determine the role of slow wave sleep in activity-dependent plasticity in the adult somatosensory cortex and in cortical remapping and behavioral recovery following focal ischemia. Dr. Landsness is a sleep medicine fellow at Washington University – St. Louis.

Thomas Scammell, MD – Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Dr. Scammell was selected to receive a Bridge to Success Award for Mid-Career/Sr. Investigators for his project, “Mechanisms of Cataplexy.” He will receive $100,000 over 1 year.
The intent of the award is to provide support to mid-level and senior investigators in sleep and biological rhythms who are in need of ‘bridge’ funding while reapplying for research support. His proposal aims to determine if cataplexy is triggered by a specific class of neurons that activate brainstem pathways and regulate the paralysis of REM sleep, as this research will bring us closer to better treatments for narcolepsy. Dr. Scammell is a Professor of Neurology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Jag Sunderram, MD – Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Dr. Sunderram was selected to receive a Bridge to Success Award for Mid-Career/Sr. Investigators for his project, “Exploring Mechanisms of OSA in World Trade Center Responders.” He will receive $100,000 over 1 year. His proposal aims to examine the mechanism by which chronic rhinosinusitis increases the risk for OSA in World Trade Center responders. Dr. Sunderram is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

For more information, or to request an interview with Dr. Martin or an award recipient, please contact Communications Coordinator Corinne Lederhouse at 630-737-9700, ext. 9366, or clederhouse@aasm.org.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF SLEEP MEDICINE FOUNDATION
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation (AASM Foundation) is a leader in supporting sleep research and education with over $12 million in awards distributed since 1988.

Updated May 24, 2018