Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Shantha is Academic Head of the School of Psychological Sciences, and Deputy Director of the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health. He is also the Director of Engagement and Translation for the Turner Instutute.
https://www.monash.edu/turner-institute/home
His primary research interest is in the field of sleep and circadian medicine.
Sleep is increasingly recognised as the third pillar of good health, along side diet and exercise. Poor sleep quality and sleep deficiency are linked to a number of serious health problems, including depression and cardiovascular disease, as well as impaired alertness and neurocognitive functioning, reduced productivity and increased accident risk.
Shantha's research program aims to investigate the role of the internal biological clock in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle, and how disruption of the clock leads to sleep disorders and other physiological consequences (for example, in shift workers). His group is developing novel treatment approaches for sleep disorders that are caused by biological clock disruption. These include light and melatonin treatments. The group is also investigating the contribution of sleep disturbances and fatigue to mood disorders and impaired cognition in clinical populations.
Sleep loss and impaired alertness adversely affect occupational safety, health and productivity, and also road safety. About 20 percent of serious car crash injuries are associated with driver sleepiness. Shantha's research is examining innovative technologies to monitor alertness in occupational and transportations settings, and is developing and testing intervention strategies aimed at reducing the burden associated with impaired alertness in these contexts.
Community service
2011-2014 President, Australasian Sleep Association
2020-present Chair, Sleep Health Foundation
http://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/
2016-2020 Board Member, Sleep Health Foundation
2013-2020 Program Leader, Alertness CRC
2007-present Chair, Monash Sleep Network
Research interests
- Circadian regulation of sleep and wakefulness
- Role of the circadian clock in regulating mood and cognitive function
- Effects of melatonin and melatonin agonists on sleep and circadian rhythms
- Effects of light on the human circadian system
- Consequences of sleep and circadian disruption in clinical and occupational contexts
- Development and evaluation of interventions for sleep and circadian disruption in transport and occupational settings
- Legal issues relating to sleep loss and sleepiness
Monash teaching commitment
2011-2014 Director of Undergraduate Programs, School of Psychology and Psychiatry
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Law, LLB(Hons), MONASH UNIVERSITY
Award Date: 29 Mar 2000
Chronobiology, PhD, MONASH UNIVERSITY
Award Date: 11 Mar 1998
Psychology, BSc(Hons), MONASH UNIVERSITY
Award Date: 20 Apr 1994
External positions
Associate Neuroscientist, Brigham and Women's Hospital
1 Jul 2004 → …
Lecturer in Medicine (academic, part-time), Harvard Medical School
1 Jul 2004 → …
Research area keywords
- Circadian rhythms
- Insomnia
- Light
- Melatonin
- Shift work
- Sleep
- Sleep Loss
- Sleep disorders
- Sleepiness-related crashes
- Fatigue
- Mood Disorders
- Depression
- Cognitive Function
Network
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A personalised digital sleep and circadian management tool to improve cognition in older shift workers
Varma, P., Wilson Rajaratnam, S., Sletten, T., Naismith, S., Howard, M. E. & Postnova, S.
21/02/22 → 20/02/23
Project: Research
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Circadian clock, sleep, and depression in adolescence: Modelling a novel pathway
Bei, B., Wilson Rajaratnam, S., Allen, N. B., Klerman, E. B., Davey, M., Wiley, J., Phillips, A. & Stone, J.
1/01/22 → 31/12/26
Project: Research
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CDC Monitoring and Evaluation Case Studies
Weaver, M. & Wilson Rajaratnam, S.
24/09/21 → 27/09/22
Project: Research
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Evaluation, Validation and Comparison of Fatigued Driving Monitoring Systems
Anderson, C., Howard, M. E., Wilson Rajaratnam, S., Cori, J., Koppel, S., Manousakis, J., Ferguson, S. A., Dawson, D., Roach, G. D., Thomas, M. J. W., Naweed, A. & Sargent, C.
Australian Automobile Association
30/06/21 → 30/06/23
Project: Research
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A personalised digital sleep and circadian management tool for human performance.
Kanagalingam, S., Sletten, T., Wilson Rajaratnam, S., McLachlan, G., Howard, M., Corbett, M., Wallace, M. & Postnova, S.
Department of Defence (Australia)
29/06/21 → 12/02/23
Project: Research
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A blue-enriched, increased intensity light intervention to improve alertness and performance in rotating night shift workers in an operational setting
Sletten, T. L., Raman, B., Magee, M., Ferguson, S. A., Kennaway, D. J., Grunstein, R. R., Lockley, S. W. & Rajaratnam, S. M. W., 2021, In: Nature and Science of Sleep. 13, p. 647-657 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access4 Citations (Scopus) -
Accommodating vaccine preferences among women of childbearing age
Czeisler, M., Rajaratnam, S. M. W., Howard, M. E. & Czeisler, C. A., Dec 2021, In: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 225, 6, p. 697-699 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › Other › peer-review
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Adverse impact of polyphasic sleep patterns in humans: Report of the National Sleep Foundation sleep timing and variability consensus panel
Weaver, M. D., Sletten, T. L., Foster, R. G., Gozal, D., Klerman, E. B., Rajaratnam, S. M. W., Roenneberg, T., Takahashi, J. S., Turek, F. W., Vitiello, M. V., Young, M. W. & Czeisler, C. A., Jun 2021, In: Sleep Health. 7, 3, p. 293-302 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus) -
An Online, Person-Centered, Risk Factor Management Program to Prevent Cognitive Decline: Protocol for A Prospective Behavior-Modification Blinded Endpoint Randomized Controlled Trial
Lim, Y. Y., Ayton, D. R., Perin, S., Lavale, A., Yassi, N., Buckley, R., Barton, C., Burns Jr, L., Morello, R., Pirotta, S., Rosenich, E., Wilson Rajaratnam, S., Sinnott, R., Brodtmann, A., Bush, A. I., Maruff, P., Churilov, L., Barker, A., Pase, M. & on behalf of the BetterBrains Research Group, 12 Oct 2021, In: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. 83, 4, p. 1603-1622 20 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Other › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Light Dark Therapy for Maternal Postpartum Insomnia Symptoms: Protocol of a Parallel-Group Randomised Controlled Efficacy Trial
Verma, S., Rajaratnam, S. M. W., Davey, M. J., Wiley, J. & Bei, B., Jan 2021, In: Frontiers in Global Women’s Health. 1, 11 p., 591677.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Other › peer-review
Open Access
Prizes
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Dean’s Award for Excellence in Education (Teaching Innovation; School of Psychology Team)
Cornish, Kim (Recipient), McKenzie, W. (Recipient), Heinrich, Liesl (Recipient), Rickard, N. (Recipient), Anderson, Clare (Recipient), Cain, Sean (Recipient) & Wilson Rajaratnam, Shanthakumar (Recipient), 3 Jul 2013
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Press / Media
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Paramedic Health and Wellbeing Research Unit (PHAWRU)
Kelly Bowles, Benjamin Meadley, Joanne Caldwell Odgers, Luke Perraton, Maxine Bonham, Brett Williams, Karen Smith, Shanthakumar Wilson Rajaratnam & Alexander Wolkow
21/02/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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CREATORS: 'Immersive Installation Explores Sleep Culture and Insomnia'
Matthew Bird, Marcus McMahon, Shanthakumar Rajaratnam, Sean Drummond, Caitlyn Parry, J David Franke & Phillip Adams
7/07/17
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Review
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ART ALMANAC: 'Matthew Bird: Dormitorium'
Matthew Bird, Marcus McMahon, Shanthakumar Rajaratnam, Sean Drummond, Caitlyn Parry, J David Franke & Phillip Adams
10/06/17
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Review
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SMH: 'Trouble sleeping? Designers might have the answer (here's a clue: lose the blue)'
Matthew Bird, Marcus McMahon, Shanthakumar Rajaratnam, Sean Drummond, Caitlyn Parry, J David Franke & Phillip Adams
28/03/17
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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ABC RADIO NATIONAL: 'An invitation to sleep'
Matthew Bird, Marcus McMahon, Shanthakumar Rajaratnam, Sean Drummond, Caitlyn Parry, J David Franke & Phillip Adams
20/03/17
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature