Focus Areas
We envision a future of healthcare that is increasingly remote and innovation-driven.
Our work spans four key areas: Sleep and Circadian Rhythms, Nonlinear Analytical Tools and Wearables, Perioperative Outcomes, and Global Health Disparities. Through these interconnected domains, we aim to redefine patient care and bridge gaps in health equity worldwide.
Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
Sleep and circadian rhythms are essential for almost all biological processes from cellular to system levels. Disrupted circadian rhythms and sleep-wake cycles are linked to numerous adverse health outcomes such as increased risk for mood disorders, disability, and cardiometabolic diseases. In alignment with the 2021 National Institutes of Health Sleep Research Plan, a series of studies in our center aim to examine sleep and circadian health in diverse populations, the relevance of sleep and circadian disturbances to the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and the potential of sleep/circadian interventions to slow down brain aging and improve long-term health outcomes in vulnerable populations (e.g., older adults, patients affected by HIV, and patients after surgery).
Nonlinear analytical tools and Wearables
Advances in wearable technology enable unobtrusive, cost-efficient monitoring of physiological signals—such as movement, heart rate, and brain activities—over extended periods, promising to revolutionize healthcare through real-time, personalized medicine in ambulatory settings. However, analyzing ambulatory physiological data presents unique challenges due to uncontrolled behaviors and environmental conditions that affect traditional measurements and complicate clinical diagnosis. Our center pioneers the integration of nonlinear analytical tools with wearable technology and advanced artificial intelligence algorithms. These nonlinear approaches reveal novel features such as fractal patterns, complexity, and cross-frequency coupling in physiological fluctuations, which reflect intrinsic system properties while remaining resilient to external influences. This innovative combination aims to provide a comprehensive view of health over time, enable early disease detection, advance personalized medicine, and empower individuals in their health management.
Surgical Care Innovation
Our perioperative research focuses on optimizing patient outcomes before, during, and after surgery through better understanding of sleep, circadian rhythms, and their impact on brain health. We are particularly interested in preventing and managing postoperative complications such as delirium, cognitive decline, and acute/chronic pain. Through the integration of wearable technology with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), we develop innovative interventions to enhance recovery from major surgeries, including open heart surgery, total joint replacements, and spine surgery. Our studies also examine how environmental, behavioral, and genetic risk factors influence surgical outcomes, particularly in patients with existing conditions such as Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, and HIV.
Global Health Disparities
Health inequities persist globally, as highlighted by the World Health Organization. Our center actively works to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in science, clinical research, and healthcare. We lead several clinical research projects addressing sleep/circadian health disparities, including the Circadian Disturbance and Dementia in Latin America study, the ROOTS (Revealing Outcomes in Older immigranT Sleep) study, research on circadian disturbances and cognitive impairment in people living with HIV, and the development of tailored digital sleep interventions for older Latino surgical patients. Furthermore, we are committed to promoting diversity in the research workforce by creating opportunities for underrepresented trainees.
