The Stanford Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology (SCN) Laboratory is devoted exclusively to basic sleep research and development of better therapies for human sleep disorders. Most of the research is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Individual gifts are extremely important to our research efforts. Numerous restrictions and regulations are associated with Federal funding. Gift funds can be used to explore new pathways of research and to finance pilot projects.

A financial contribution to the Stanford SCN Lab will be used exclusively for research. The Stanford Sleep Research Center recently identified hypocretin (orexin) deficiency as the cause of most cases of human narcolepsy. Although this discovery lead to the establishment of a new diagnostic test (i.e. CSF hypocretin measures) for human narcolepsy, the new knowledge still has not been incorporated to develop new treatments (hypocretin replacement); further research especially studying the hypocretin system at the molecular and pharmacological levels are needed to develop new treatments. Similarly, needs for the basic research for other sleep disorders, such as insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndromes, are urgent.   

Make a Contribution

If you would like to make a contribution to the center, please make your check payable to:

        Stanford University

and enclose a letter stating:

        "the donation is a gift to be used for research in the SCN lab"

Our mailing address is:

        Dr. Seiji Nishino
        Director - Stanford SCN lab
        Stanford University School of Medicine
        Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
        1201 Welch Road, MSLS, P213
        Palo Alto CA 94304-5489