The future of sleep science has arrived at Center for BrainHealth, with the January launch of the Sleep Innovation Laboratories. This multi-disciplinary research initiative is led by inaugural director Dr. Matthew Walker, professor of neuroscience and bioengineering at UT Dallas’ School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.Serving as associate director of the Labs is Eti Ben Simon, PhD. Dr. Ben Simon is a neuroscientist and a sleep scientist, studying the neural mechanisms of sleep-dependent behavior in humans, specifically the emotional and social changes that take place as a result of sleep loss. Her pioneering research was the first to demonstrate the negative impact of sleep deprivation on prosocial altruism and identify its neural underpinnings using several neuroimaging tools. She previously served as a sleep researcher in the Center for Human Sleep Science at UC Berkeley.
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"Eti is, quite simply, one of the most brilliant and pioneering sleep scientists of her generation," said Walker. "Her research isn’t just advancing the field—it is opening an entirely new frontier, revealing for the first time how sleep loss erodes the very fabric of human kindness and social connection. I couldn't have wished for a more extraordinary partner to help build something truly transformative. I’m so fortunate to have her as a co-founding leader of this incredible new venture.”
Recent Awards and HonorsIn December 2025, Walker and Ben Simon were accepted to the inaugural Science Communication Fellowship of the Boston Museum of Science. This 6-month program pairs scientific experts with digital content creators to develop engaging, accessible and impactful science content. The fellowship will enable the creation of new digital content on sleep and social-emotional health and advance a core strategy of the Sleep Innovation Laboratories – creating greater access to engaging, actionable sleep education.Work related to two other awards will inform novel insights and contributions from the Sleep Innovation Laboratories to Center for BrainHealth’s education initiatives. Walker and Ben Simon received the 2025 BrainStorm Award from the Mind Science Foundation to fund the research project “Too Tired to Think Straight: The Role of Sleep Loss in Spreading Misinformation” – conducted in collaboration with the University of Cambridge. In addition, Ben Simon has been accepted to the 2026 Scientist-in-Residence program of the city of Salzburg for a research stay in cooperation with the Prof. Kerstin Hoedlmoser, director of the Sleep, Cognition and Consciousness Lab at Salzburg University – exploring the impact of sleep loss on vulnerability to misinformation in adolescents. Advancing Sleep ScienceThe Sleep Innovation Laboratories team is deeply engaged in a new collaborative research initiative spearheaded by Center for BrainHealth – the BrainHealth Network, which focuses on understanding brain health through advanced MRI imaging and data analysis. Ben Simon will be a featured speaker during the first convening of this group to share initial research findings – the Science Summit: Breakthroughs in Precision Brain Health, taking place on Thursday, February 26, during the fourth annual BrainHealth Week.About the Sleep Innovation LaboratoriesLocated within Center for BrainHealth, the Sleep Innovation Laboratories are uniquely poised to bridge foundational neuroscience with real-world application related to sleep. The center has long championed the brain’s ability to change, adapt and thrive. With this significant new venture, Center for BrainHealth continues its mission to deliver science-based strategies that strengthen brain health and performance, optimizing the brain during both wakefulness and sleep. Made possible thanks to private philanthropy and with ongoing fundraising efforts, the Sleep Innovation Laboratories will serve as a vital hub for discovery, innovation and public education – bringing sleep out of the shadows and into the forefront of human potential.
