Clinical Research Site Spotlight: Sleep Disorder Unit

Flexible Staffing to Support the Wesley Woods Geriatric Center and Sleep Disorder Unit

Members of the ACTSI Clinical Research Network (CRN) met with Donald L. Bliwise, PhD, professor of Neurology and the director of the Program in Sleep, Aging and Chronobiology, and reviewed staffing shortages at the Wesley Woods Geriatric Center and Sleep Disorders Unit. The CRN, through the Atlanta Research Nursing Alliance, provided flexible staffing to support sleep studies including Sleep/Wake Continuum in Lewy Body Disease, funded by NINDS; Biomarkers of Aging in the Bay Area Sleep Cohort, funded by NIA; and Melatonin and Nighttime Blood Pressure in African Americans, funded NCCAM.

The initial meeting between Dr. Bliwise and the ACTSI led to the creation of the citywide ACTSI Sleep Research Network and Dr. Bliwise has since become involved with the national CTSA Sleep Research Network Steering Committee.