Sleep-wake disorders affect 10-20% of the general population and have a dramatic impact on health, performance, productivity, and overall quality of life. However, the awareness and knowledge about sleep-wake disorders and current diagnostic and treatment strategies are often unused or inadequate.

The mission of the ESF is to promote:

• the knowledge about mechanisms and determinants contributing to disorders of sleep and wakefulness
• the discovery of new approaches to optimize sleep-related health in patients and general population
• the interactions between different health professionals, scientists and caregivers involved in sleep and related fields
• the education of scientists, physicians, and the general population about sleep, its implications in multiple brain-body functions and the consequences of insufficient sleep

To realize its mission the ESF supports diverse activities through schools, think tanks, master courses and research/educational fellowships.

Together with the Universities of Bern and Svizzera Italiana the ESF organizes a post-graduate Master program (“Academy of Sleep and Consciousness”) which offers unique training and an career perspectives in sleep, disorders of consciousness and related fields.