This course was presented in person at World Sleep 2025 in Singapore.

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Session Schedule

Find a specific presentation in the course by navigating to the timestamp indicated below.

0:00:00
Introduction
Juliane Winkelmann (Germany)
Sutapa Mukherjee (Australia)

0:09:30
Genetics of insomnia
Cynthia Tchio presenting for Richa Saxena (United States)

0:42:15
Genetics of OSA
Hanna Ollila (Finland)

1:39:30
Genetics of narcolepsy
Emmanuel Mignot (United States)

2:38:15
Genetics of restless legs
Juliane Winkelmann (Germany)

3:21:45
Discussion / Question and answer

Course Summary:

Over the past two decades, genetics has provided powerful tools to uncover the biological basis of sleep and its disorders. Genome-wide association studies, rare variant analyses, and integrative functional genomic approaches have revealed novel pathways involved in sleep regulation and the pathophysiology of insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless legs syndrome. These findings not only advance our scientific understanding but also open translational avenues by identifying biomarkers for disease risk, refining patient stratification, and suggesting novel molecular targets for therapy
This symposium brings together leading experts in the genetics of sleep disorders who will provide comprehensive updates on recent advances. By linking large-scale population studies to mechanistic insights, we will illustrate how genetic discoveries are driving a paradigm shift: from describing clinical phenotypes to uncovering their biological roots, thereby paving the way for precision medicine and new therapeutic strategies.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
• Describe the current state of knowledge on the genetics of insomnia, OSA, narcolepsy, and restless legs syndrome.
• Explain how genetic findings contribute to our understanding of disease mechanisms and heterogeneity in clinical presentation.
• Assess the translational potential of genetic discoveries for biomarker development, risk prediction, and patient stratification.
• Evaluate how genetics can inform drug discovery by pointing to novel molecular pathways and therapeutic targets.
• Integrate genetic insights into clinical and research contexts, bridging basic science with patient care in sleep medicine.