Grandner recognized with top researcher award, board election

Michael Grandner, PhD, MTR, an associate professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson and director of the college’s Sleep and Health Research Program in the Department of Psychiatry, has been elected to the Sleep Research Society’s 2025-2026 board of directors. He was also named the most impactful researcher in sleep and sleep medicine of the last five years by ScholarGPS.

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Grandner, who is the associate director for translational and behavioral science of the U of A’s Center for Sleep, Circadian & Neuroscience Research, has been a member of the Sleep Research Society for more than 25 years. As a member of the board, he said he hopes to build collaboration across institutions and make sure the University of Arizona has a voice in the decision-making process that steers the primary scientific organization in the field of sleep science. 

“I have always looked up to the great people who led the SRS over the years, and I always wanted to one day be among that group,” said Grandner. “I am honored to have the opportunity to help steer the field I care about so much.”

The U of A is an international leader in sleep research and has internationally recognized programs in many areas of sleep research, including basic science, sleep deprivation, sleep apnea, insomnia and sleep health. Grandner’s lab focuses on sleep health.

“My group has been studying the pathways linking poor sleep health to cardiovascular disease, obesity and suicide risk,” said Grandner. “We are also studying the role of social and environmental factors — especially at the U.S.-Mexico border — in the relationship between sleep and health.”

“We are proud of Dr. Grandner for being elected to the Sleep Researchers Society’s 2025-2026 Board of Directors as a director-at-large,” said Jordan F. Karp, MD, a professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry. “It is a testament to his expertise and leadership in the field of sleep research and his dedication to helping people achieve the restorative sleep they need and thereby achieve better physical and mental health outcomes.”

In addition to his board election, Grandner also learned he had been listed as the highest-ranked sleep researcher by the ScholarGPS website. The organization’s Highly Ranked Scholars 2024 list ranks the most productive authors based on the number of publications and works that are of “profound impact (citations) and of the utmost quality (h-index),” according to the website. The h-index measures the quality and quantity of scientific output. 

“Sleep is an amazing thing to study, because it's universal and connects all of us — everyone sleeps,” said Grandner. “It’s so important because it integrates so many different systems in our brain and body. Yet many people struggle with sleep problems, so getting a better understanding of how to improve sleep health offers the opportunity to really make an impact on many people’s day-to-day lives.”