Sleep Research in Africa: from basic neuroscience and clinical investigations to health management in developing countries

In Africa, sleep and the brain are affected by major endemic infectious/parasitic diseases (sleeping sickness, cerebral malaria), toxic pollutions and cultural practices (consumption of Khat) that are unique to this continent. Sleeping sickness threatens more than 60 million people (and livestock) in some of the least developed countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Infectious diseases and other pathogens affecting the brain and sleep impose a heavy burden on the people of African countries and pose major challenges for research, public health and health care policies. In spite of these problems, the state of research on sleep in Africa is rudimentary and resolving these issues will require future investment of substantial human and financial resources. The symposium aims to promote an increased awareness of the current challenges and opportunities for research in Africa and to discuss issues of health management.

                              To provide support contact: howard.cooper@inserm.fr 

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