SLEEP HEALTH (symposium session): The role of sleep in non-communicable disease prevention
Tracks
Track 3
| Thursday, November 12, 2026 |
| 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM |
Details
Sleep is a foundational yet often overlooked pillar of non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention. All aspects of sleep health have been linked to increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mental health disorders. This symposium will explore how biological, behavioural, and social factors interact to shape long term health outcomes across the life course. The session will bring together experts in sleep medicine, epidemiology, and public health to discuss the evidence linking sleep and NCDs and practical strategies for integrating sleep into prevention frameworks. By positioning sleep alongside diet and physical activity, this session seeks to advance comprehensive, evidence-based approaches to NCD prevention. The symposium will conclude with a panel discussion on clinical, policy, and community-based interventions to promote healthy sleep. Join us as we connect evidence with practical strategies to reduce NCD risk and support healthier lives across generations.
Speaker
Prof Peter Cistulli
Professor Of Sleep Medicine
Royal North Shore Hospital / University of Sydney
Evidence linking multidimensional sleep health to non-communicable diseases
3:50 PM - 4:10 PMBiography
Professor Peter Cistulli is a clinician researcher with 35 years’ experience in the fields of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine. He is Professor of Sleep Medicine at the University of Sydney and holds the ResMed Chair. He leads the Sleep Research Theme within the multidisciplinary Charles Perkins Centre and is an NHMRC Leadership Fellow (L3). He is also Clinical Director of the Sleep Medicine Program at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney. He is currently President-elect of the World Sleep Society.
Dr Cassandra Pattinson
Senior Research Fellow
University of Queensland
Advancing sleep health in childhood: Implications for practice and policy
4:10 PM - 4:30 PMBiography
Dr Cassandra Pattinson is a Senior Research Fellow and ARC DECRA Fellow. She is a Research Leader within the Community Sleep Health Group in the University of Queensland's Child Health Research Centre. Her research examines how light exposure, digital technology and sleep shape children's health and development. She is committed to translating sleep science into practical resources for families, educators and policymakers.
Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis
Director At Brainpark; Professor of physical activity, lifestyle and population health
Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health / Monash University
Integrating sleep, physical activity and nutrition for synergistic effects: The HealthSPAN framework
4:30 PM - 4:50 PMBiography
Prof. Emmanuel Stamatakis is Professor of Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Population Health at Monash University and Director of BrainPark. An epidemiologist with more than 25 years’ experience, his research focuses on physical activity, sedentary behaviour, wearable-device measurement and population health. He pioneered research on physical activity “micropatterns”, including Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity (VILPA), and leads internationally recognised research using wearable technologies to understand how everyday movement influences health. He has authored 480 peer-reviewed publications, with more than 58,000 citations, and has secured over $33.5 million in research funding. He has also contributed to WHO physical activity guidelines and held senior editorial and research leadership roles.
Dr Zoe Menczel Schrire
Postdoctoral Research Associate
University of Sydney
From policy gaps to a regional roadmap: Reforming sleep and circadian health across the Western Pacific
4:50 PM - 5:10 PMBiography
Dr. Zoe Menczel Schrire is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Sydney in the Healthy Brain Ageing Program. After her undergraduate degree in pharmacology and psychology, she earned her PhD by delving into the realm of dementia prevention, focusing on the impact of both internal and external melatonin. Currently, as a postdoctoral researcher, Zoe leads a clinical trial exploring the potential of musical interventions to prevent cognitive decline and promote neuroplasticity in older adults with memory difficulties. She also conducts research in the field of circadian rhythms and sleep.
Prof Peter Cistulli
Professor Of Sleep Medicine
Royal North Shore Hospital / University of Sydney
Chair
Biography
Dr Cassandra Pattinson
Senior Research Fellow
University of Queensland
Chair
Biography
