Dr. Lorna Lopez:

I run a research project called FamilySleeps and it is funded by a European Research Council grant. I have a wonderful team of researchers helping to undertake that research and its goal is to understand the genetic basis of sleep and autism. We know there is a genetic link between sleep and autism because research has shown us there is a link between chronotype, which is our preference for night time or morning time, and autism. We are undertaking this approach and are doing it in a family environment because, of course, families are very important. We will measure sleep and activity over the period of one year because, until now, research has only been undertaken for two weeks, for example. It is very important for us to get an understanding of our biological rhythms and how that relates to sleep and sleep disturbances. That is very problematic and is one of the most common co-occurring condition reported for autism. That is our approach. We are undertaking and have done some pilot work on that which we are launching later this year. We are hoping that will be a very important insight into the biological basis of circadian rhythms within families and within families with autism. That is our sleep research.

So far, as I have said, we have a team of researchers, health and chronobiologists, healthcare professionals, and lived-experience experts. This is very much a transdisciplinary effort and is important because of the need to get a sense of sleeping during the night. We are using non-invasive sensors in the rooms and to measure activity during the day, so it is very much a technology-driven project also, but with the aim of discovering the genetic basis of it.