Delegate: Dr Kamalesh K Gulia
Affiliations: Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, India
Short Bio: Dr Kamalesh K Gulia is Senior Sleep Scientist and In-charge of the Division of Sleep Research in the Biomedical Technology Wing of the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, a premier Government Institute of National importance by Government of India. Dr Gulia’s research interests includes neurophysiology of sleep and cognition; role of sleep in developmental programming, sleep deprivation during postnatal growth and cognitive-emotional development; developmental plasticity in autonomic nervous system; sleep and thermoregulation; Pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of insomnia. The lab also provides training in sleep research to national and International students.
Dr Gulia organized 8th International Conference of the Asian Sleep Research Society in Kovalam, India in 2014. She also organised the 5th National Sleep Medicine Course and 4th national Conference of Indian Society for Sleep Research in Trivandrum in 2010. Dr Gulia has authored 35 full papers in peer-reviewed International journals and edited 3 conference proceedings. She has presented the research findings in various national and International Conferences (Thailand, Japan, China, Iran, New Zealand, Australia, USA, France, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka) and acclaimed several awards including Prof Baldev Singh Oration Award 2019, Best Presentation Award for “Lack of awareness on peri-pregnancy health and jeopardizing maternal-child outcomes” in the 2nd International conference of Future of Women 2019 in Sri Lanka, the Young Investigator Awards at 29th Meeting of Japanese Neuroscience Society (Kyoto) in 2006 & at 34th IUPS congress (Christchurch, New Zealand) by FAOPS in 2001; Young Scientist Award at the 4th Asian Sleep Research Society Congress (Zhuhai, China) in 2004; etc.
Dr Gulia is very passionate about Science of Sleep, and time to time keep organizing various events to bring more awareness about sleep and health in society. Dr Gulia is elected member of National Academy of Medical Sciences (India); General Secretary of the Indian Society for Sleep Research and Executive member of the Indian Academy of Neurosciences.
Activity: Dr Kamalesh K Gulia organized the 13th annual World Sleep Day with slogan of this year’s celebration was ‘Better Sleep, Better Life, Better Planet’ on 13 March 2020 in the BMT wing. During the event, important role of sleep as a pillar of health was discussed and highlighted as it helps for better decision making and cognitive understanding in big issues including our planet. World Sleep Day Inaugural Address was given by Dr. Harikrishna Varma, Head of BMT Wing and Dr. Maya Nandkumar A., Head, Dept of Applied Biology chaired the session. Dr Varma emphasized importance of sleep and having devices by which drowsiness can be timely detected as large numbers of accidents happen due to drowsiness in drivers. Dr. Kamalesh K Gulia, delegate of World Sleep Society for World Sleep Day delivered special talk Sleep for Health & Wellbeing: Ultimate blueprint for better life!. The event was attended by Faculty, students and staff of the BMT wing. Talk was followed by Question-Answer session and Dr Gulia discussed several relevant topics with enthusiastic participants. Dr Manoj Komath, senior Scientist gave concluding remarks.
Location: Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Date of Activity: 13 March 2020
Submitted By: Dr Kamalesh K Gulia
