# Behavioral Sleep Medicine: Training in Sleep and Aging

> **NIH NIH K24** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2020 · $170,536

## Abstract

BEHAVIORAL SLEEP MEDICINE: TRAINING IN SLEEP & AGING
ABSTRACT
Goals: In this proposal, Dr. Michael Perlis requests support to: 1) stabilize and expand his mentoring of junior
investigators in the domain of behavioral sleep medicine and in the biopsychosocial approach to the study of
insomnia (etiology, pathophysiology, treatment outcome research, and treatment mechanisms of action
studies); 2) engage a program of educational activities that will provide him and his mentees with a strong
foundation for the assessment of aging as a moderating factor for insomnia research; and 3) establish a
collaborative network with junior investigators to conduct hypothesis-driven research with his NIA supported
project on the natural history of insomnia. Background: Dr. Perlis has been involved in patient-oriented
research since his mid-20's. He has been the beneficiary of exceptional mentorship and has carried forward
this tradition over the entirety of his career. His research on Insomnia Disorder extends from basic research to
patient-oriented research. Qualifications: The candidate has extensive experience as a PI, Co-PI, or Co-I on
multiple NIH awards and a successful track record in mentoring others via NIH K23 and R21 mechanisms.
Environment: The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) is one of the premier centers for sleep and chronobiology
research and clinical work. As such, it has much to offer both the PI and his trainees. Development Activities:
The core activity for the mentor's professional development will be the implementation of a monthly seminar
series focused on Sleep and Aging. Leading scientists will be invited to Penn to discuss their ideas with
respect to the effects of aging on sleep need, sleep ability and sleep opportunity and how alterations within
these domains confer increased risk for sleep disorders and adverse health outcomes. In addition, the
mentor/PI will take one workshop or course per year focused on biopsychosocial perspectives on aging and
one workshop pertaining to bioethics. Mentoring Program: As the Director of Penn's Behavioral Sleep Medicine
program, Dr. Perlis has created a unique set of educational activities that attract a wide array of trainees
including established professionals, junior investigators, post-doctoral fellows, graduate and medical students,
post baccalaureates, and undergraduates. The plan for this K24 is to provide trainees with a set of educational
activities that include professional development, focused training in behavioral sleep medicine, and an in-depth
appreciation regarding the quantitative assessment of sleep continuity (e.g., sleep diary assessments,
actigraphy, PSG, & QEEG). Research: The candidate proposes to create a collaborative network to conduct
archival analysis with Jr. Investigators using his NIA supported natural history of insomnia databases
(R01AG041783). The individuals invited will have specialty areas apart from the PI, and thus will serve as an
opportunity for the PI to both ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9967935
- **Project number:** 5K24AG055602-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael Lloyd Perlis
- **Activity code:** K24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $170,536
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-06-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9967935

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9967935, Behavioral Sleep Medicine: Training in Sleep and Aging (5K24AG055602-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9967935. Licensed CC0.

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