Supporting sleep research at the British Paediatric Sleep Society Research Fest 2025
Thursday 30 January 2025
The NIHR HRC in Paediatrics and Child Health were delighted to attend the British Paediatric Sleep Society (BPSS) Research Fest 2025 and host a workshop with healthcare professionals to evaluate the Top 10 Priorities in this vital area of healthcare research.
The BPSS Research Fest 2025 was an inspiring day dedicated to advancing paediatric sleep research. The event provided an opportunity to review progress made since the previous BPSS Research Fest in 2023, learn from expert presentations, showcase new developments, and collaboratively establish research priorities for the coming years. The programme included engaging talks, expert-led discussions, and opportunities to network with professionals that strive to improve paediatric sleep health. The keynote address was delivered by Professor Paul Gringas, who explored the “Potential and pitfalls of paediatric sleep research” which offered valuable insight and thought-provoking perspectives.
Collaborative priority-setting workshop
Within the NIHR HRC in Paediatrics and Child Health, we have a number of projects dedicated to paediatric respiratory and sleep research that sit within our Long-Term Conditions in Childhood theme, led by Professor Heather Elphick. Along with Prof Elphick, our very own NIHR HRC Project Managers worked with the BPSS organising committee to coordinate the online event and our team was instrumental in conceptualising, planning and facilitating the collaborative workshop that aimed to set the Top 10 Priorities in paediatric sleep research. This session built on what we learned from a similar workshop we hosted at the 2023 BPSS Research Fest and work carried out by the NIHR HRC in 2024 that collated valuable insight and feedback from healthcare professionals and researchers about the current research landscape.
Jacob Branchflower, NIHR HRC Project Manager for the Long-Term Conditions in Childhood theme, worked with the BPSS organising committee and led the organisation and planning of the afternoon workshop. He reflects:
“The NIHR HRC is proud to have played a key role in organising and delivering the BPSS SleepFest 2025, bringing together leading experts in paediatric sleep to share insights and drive progress in sleep disorder research. The event concluded with a priority-setting exercise, laying the foundation for a focused and impactful agenda to tackle the most pressing sleep challenges faced by young people today.”
Thank you to all the fantastic attendees that made the day such a positive and enjoyable learning experience. We look forward to sharing the outcomes of the workshop and being part of something that continues to shape the future of paediatric sleep research.
Find out more about the BPSS and the incredible work they do by following the link below.