My research focuses on the genetic epidemiology of sleep and related comorbidities in humans, with a particular emphasis on obstructive sleep apnea. This is a common disorder, particularly in older and more obese individuals. But sleep apnea can impact others as well, and studies have indicated that sleep apnea has an important genetic component independent of obesity. Sleep apnea is also an important risk factor for several other common and debilitating diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Current highlights of my research include a) identifying an association between sleep apnea and COVID-19 morbidity and mortality; b) identifying the first genetic associations with sleep apnea in humans at genome-wide significance; c) whole-genome sequence analyses of sleep apnea within the NHLBI TOPMed Consortium (where I co-chair the sleep traits working group); and d) ongoing “big data” analyses of sleep apnea and related comorbidities in electronic health record biobanks of over 250,000 patients.