WRAIR Sleep Research Center

It was another great MHSRS! Dr. Sara Alger and Dr. Tracy Jill Doty represented the incredible sleep research team from Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, presenting a poster on findings from our Operational Research Team and moderating a breakout session that highlighted the critical importance on sleep for medical readiness. The focus on sleep and fatigue research at this year’s conference demonstrates a strong signal demand from stakeholders and the synergy across services and within the Defense Health Agency to meet the needs of the Warfighter!

Dr. Sara Alger and Dr. Tracy Jill Doty will be moderating a breakout session entitled Sleep: The Key to Medical Readiness tomorrow, 6 AUG at MHSRS. This is one of two breakout sessions focused on fatigue and sleep, showing the importance of these research efforts for the DoD.

WRAIR is proud to be moderating 2 break out sessions, leading 18 talks and presenting 46 posters at the Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS) 2025!
Join us at booth #505 to discover our cutting-edge research in advancing warfighter health and readiness. Learn about our ongoing projects, meet our scientists, and explore opportunities for collaboration. We look forward to seeing you there!

Congratulations to all the WRAIR winners from the Spring Research Festival on 30 APR AND 1 MAY, including our team members who placed under Emerging Technology and Applied & Environmental Biology!

Dr. Tina Burke was invited to speak on sleep and fatigue last week at the Wellness Symposium hosted by the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) in honor of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Sleep and fatigue were highlighted as serious concerns, captured eloquently by Vice Admiral John Fuller’s comment that “fatigue is the enemy of readiness”. Walter Reed Army Institute of Research’s leadership in sleep research continues to support the DoD and the Nation to address readiness and mental health.

We had the honor of presenting our recent research from our Sleep Research Center and our Operational Research Team at the Spring Research Festival Symposium & Exhibition. The event is co-sponsored by the U.S. Army Medical Research & Development Command (USAMRDC) and the Military & Health Research Foundation (MHRF).

Dr. Tina Burke and Dr. Sara Alger were invited to speak about Sleep Optimization at the inaugural USAF Honor Guard Wellness Symposium on February 13th. The day-long event at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling covered other topics such as musculoskeletal health, supplement use, nutrition, and mental health which all contribute to service members being better fit to serve, improving readiness, and enhancing lethality.

Inaugural Wellness Symposium Helps Military Members Be Better Fit To Serve - Muscle & Fitness Discover how the inaugural Wellness Symposium at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling empowered U.S. military members with tools to boost strength, stamina, and resilience.

The Behavioral Biology Branch held on to the Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience spear once again for their superior trivia teamwork at the CMPN holiday potluck!

Dr. Samantha Riedy from the Sleep Research Center was recognized yesterday with an Outstanding Achievement award at the WRAIR awards ceremony for her outstanding leadership and experience during the recent Office of Human and Animal Research Oversight (OHARO) review.

Dr. Sara Alger and Dr. Tina Burke of the WRAIR Behavioral Biology Branch were recently invited by the US Army Cadet Command to speak with The University of North Georgia Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets about the vital role of sleep readiness in military performance and leadership.

As two of the Department of Defense’s leading experts on sleep, Drs. Alger and Burke met with UNG President Dr. Shannon as well as Cadet Leadership Academy Superintendent LTG (Ret) Terry and Chief of Staff COL (Ret) Kirk. They shared cutting-edge research and actionable strategies to help cadets optimize their sleep for peak performance, readiness, and decision-making in high-pressure environments.

The engagement highlights WRAIR’s commitment to empowering the next generation of military leaders with science-based tools for success!

Daylight Savings Time will end on Sunday, November 3rd, so don’t forget to fall back one hour!

Just a reminder that although the end of DST is not associated with sleep loss the same way as when the clocks spring forward, gaining an extra hour can still affect circadian rhythm and create a potential struggle to adjust wake-up times for up to a week after falling back. The end of DST can be an opportunity to improve your sleep habits and get enough rest every night!

Even during spooky season, the research never stops! We had a blast celebrating while our team works around the clock to bring you groundbreaking strategies for Warfighter fatigue management. 👻😴💤