The Sleep Disorders Research Unit (SDRU) was founded in 2023 and has since established a diverse portfolio of clinical and translational research studies. We are dedicated to advancing the science of sleep medicine through both clinical trials and investigator-initiated research. By addressing critical gaps in sleep health, our team seeks to improve the lives of individuals with sleep disorders and broaden our understanding of one of the most fundamental processes in health.

See our current sleep disorder trials

Principal Investigators

Dr. Diego Robles Mazzotti, Ph.D.

Dr. Diego Robles Mazzotti is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Division of Medical Informatics, Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Mazzotti received his Ph.D. in Psychobiology at the Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil and a Certificate in Biomedical Informatics from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Mazzotti’s current research interests focus on the application of innovative methods to the analysis of high-dimensional physiological, behavioral, genetic, and epidemiological data in sleep and sleep disorders, to understand how they can be translated into clinical knowledge and into applications that can advance healthcare. Such methods include supervised and unsupervised machine learning, data integration and harmonization, and the development of tools that facilitate clinical research with the potential to impact clinical care. Dr. Mazzotti serves as Principal Investigator for the majority of observational studies within the SDRU.

Damien Stevens, M.D., M.S.

Dr. Damien Stevens is an Associate professor for Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). He is also the Sleep Lab Medical Director and Program Director for the Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program at KUMC. Dr. Stevens earned his medical degree and completed his residency at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. His fellowship was completed at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Stevens has been involved with research for 30 years and has completed a Master of Science in Clinical Research. Currently, Dr. Stevens interests are in predictors of CPAP compliance and the effectiveness of weight loss interventions. Dr. Stevens is the Principal Investigator on most clinical trials in the SDRU and has served as PI for more than 20 clinical trials during his time with the team.

Sub-Investigators

• Usman Nazir, M.D.
• Sowjanya Duthuluru, M.D.
• Saurav Luthra, M.D.
• Nancy Stewart, DO, MS
• Jennifer Liebenthal, M.D.
• Rene Cortese, PhD
  

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Study Staff

• Clinical Research Supervisor - Nick Pfeiff, CCRP
• Clinical Research Coordinator - Erin Pickert, MPH
• Senior Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator - Jill Torneden, BSN, RN, CCRP
• Clinical Research Assistant - Anna Baklanov
• Clinical Research Assistant - Julia Walewicz