Dr Nicole Lovato aims for an insomnia-free society

2.5 million Australians suffer from insomnia, a debilitating disorder that places a significant burden on an individual’s wellbeing, our society and the economy.

Early career researcher, Dr Nicole Lovato is working towards creating an insomnia-free society. Her life-changing research at Flinders is focused on making drug-free insomnia care accessible and affordable for everyone who suffers from the disorder.

Poor, or disrupted, sleep is associated with a range of adverse effects including fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and increased accidents on the road and in the workplace. It can have a significant impact on individuals, their relationships and their overall quality of life.

Dr Lovato is interested in how sleep, and the disturbance of it, can impact daytime functioning. She is researching how a range of drug-free therapies such as bright light, cognitive-behaviour therapy and napping strategies can alleviate the effects of sleep disturbances and disorders.

“My hope is that my research will ensure that simple, new behavioural treatments will help to make insomnia a thing of the past,” says Dr Lovato.

“The findings of my research have important implications not only for improving the effectiveness of therapies used to treat sleep disorders, but also for enhancing the health, safety and welfare of a range of groups including adolescents, shift workers, individuals suffering from sleep disorders, and older adults.”

Flinders University supports the work of early career researchers, like Dr Lovato. We have recently launched the Impact Seed Funding for Early Career Researchers program which provides vital funding of up to $10,000 for PhD graduates ready to take the next step and carve their own research pathway.

Help us invest in ten more emerging researchers in 2019.

Your support will enable our talented early career researchers to begin their first independent research projects which often create a springboard to secure major grants and establish crucial collaborative partnerships.

100% of your donation will be used to fund early career researchers ready to make a positive impact on our community.

Turn ideas into discoveries, give to our talented emerging researchers and support their promising research careers.

Early Career Researcher, Dr Nicole Lovato