Northwestern University

Northwestern University
One-year Research Study
$191,231 Grant Awarded in 2008

According to the Institute of Medicine, as many as 6 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a severe sleep disorder that can lead to obesity, diabetes, stroke and depression and a profound economic impact on the health care system. Researchers John Linehan, Ph.D., professor of Medicine and Bioengineering at Northwestern University, and Jan Pietzsch, Ph.D., consulting assistant professor in Stanford University's Department of Management Science and Engineering, and President and CEO of Wing Tech Inc, will apply the one year, $191,231 grant to deliver new insights about the role of medical technology in diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep apnea. The team will explore efficacy, cost-effectiveness and access to diagnostic and therapeutic technology used to treat the disorder. Researchers will build a predictive model to assess the effects of improved diagnosis and treatment of the condition that can be used for future policy and technology development.