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Sophie Carter

RESEARCHER PROFILE

PhD Student


Sophie Carter is working with the NeuRA Sleep and Breathing research team. She previously studied a Bachelor of Science focusing on human anatomy. Sophie’s PhD research project is focused on the effect of the common sleeping pill zopiclone on obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) severity and symptoms. Sophie’s project will contribute to furthering the understanding of the underlying causes of OSA, and developing new & improved methods for the diagnosis and treatment of OSA.

Projects Sophie Carter is currently involved with

CURRENT PROJECTS

The Effects of “Z Drugs” in People With Obstructive Sleep Apnoea


PROF DANNY ECKERT, SOPHIE CARTER, BENJAMIN TONG, PROFESSOR SIMON GANDEVIA, ANDREA RICCIARDIELLO, CAROLIN TRAN, RICHARD LIM, ATQIYA AISHAH, LUDOVICO MESSINEO

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common disorder characterised by repetitive narrowing and collapse of the upper airway during sleep. It is associated with daytime sleepiness, neurocognitive impairment, and a variety of adverse cardiovascular consequences. The first line treatment for OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. If tolerated, CPAP is highly effective in reducing sleep disordered breathing events. However, up to 50% of OSA patients are unable to tolerate CPAP therapy leaving many OSA patients without treatment.

Previous studies indicate that in selected obstructive sleep apnea participants a standard dose of a z-drug can shift the threshold for awakening during sleep (arousal) whilst maintaining the upper airway muscle activity required to keep the airway open. This study aims to investigate the effects of different doses of sleeping pills (Z-drugs) on how easily people wake up when the airway narrows during sleep, the activity of a major muscle located under the tongue (genioglossus) and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) severity and symptoms.

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The Effects of “Z Drugs” in People With Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

RESEARCH TEAM

CHRISTOPHER BULL Sleep Laboratory Manager : 9399 1886
: c.bull@neura.edu.au

LUDOVICO MESSINEO PhD Student : l.messineo@neura.edu.au

CAROLIN TRAN Sleep Laboratory Manager : 9399 1886
: c.tran@neura.edu.au

ATQIYA AISHAH PhD Student : a.aishah@neura.edu.au

ANDREA RICCIARDIELLO Research Assistant : 9399 1886
: A.ricciardiello@neura.edu.au

ALAN CHIANG Postdoctoral Fellow : (02) 9399 1834
: a.chiang@neura.edu.au

HANNA HENSEN PhD student

DR PETER BURKE Postdoctoral fellow

RICHARD LIM Honours student

DR AHMAD BAMAGOOS PhD student

AMAL OSMAN PhD student

Rodrigo Martins

DR RODRIGO TOMAZINI MARTINS PhD Student : +612 9399 1834
: r.martins@neura.edu.au

Ben Tong

BENJAMIN TONG Sleep Lab Manager : 9399 1886
: sleeplab@neura.edu.au

SUPERVISORS

PROF DANNY ECKERT Principal Research Scientist, NeuRA Associate Professor, UNSW R.D. Wright Fellow, NHMRC

Further information about Sophie Carter

RELATED INFORMATION

Awards/Prizes

2014                Best Student Oral Presentation on SDB, Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand

2015                Finalist in New Investigator Award plenary session, Australasian Sleep Association

2016                Finalist in New Investigator Award plenary session, Australasian Sleep Association

2016                International Travel Award, Australasian Sleep Association Annual Scientific Conference

2017                International Abstract Scholarship, Assembly on Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology

Published Abstracts

Carter SG, Carberry JC, Cho G, Fisher LP, Rollo CM, Stevens D, D’Rozario A, McKenzie DK, Grunstein RR, Eckert DJ (2017). ‘The Role of Nightly Zopiclone on Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severity and Symptoms in People with Low to Moderate Respiratory Arousal Thresholds: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.’ Sleep 40(1): A207

Carter SG, Carberry JC, Cho G, Fisher LP, Rollo CM, Stevens D, D’Rozario A, McKenzie DK, Grunstein RR, Eckert DJ (2016). ‘Effects of 1 Month of Nightly Zopiclone on Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Severity and Measures of Alertness: A Randomised Controlled Trial.’ Journal of Sleep Research 25: 5

Carter SG, Berger MS, Carberry JC, Bilston LE, Butler JE, Tong BK, Martins RT, Fisher LP, McKenzie DK, Grunstein RR, Eckert DJ (2015). ‘Zopiclone Increases the Arousal Threshold without Impairing Genioglossus Muscle Activity in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.’ Sleep and Biological Rhythms 13(1): 2

Carberry JC, Fisher LP, Carter SC, Rollo CM, Butler JE, McKenzie DK, Eckert DJ (2015). ‘Respiratory Sensation During Wakefulness is Related to the Respiratory Arousal Threshold During Sleep in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.’ Sleep and Biological Rhythms 13(1): 5

PUBLICATIONS

Zopiclone Increases the Arousal Threshold without Impairing Genioglossus Activity in Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Carter SG, Berger MS, Carberry JC, Bilston LE, Butler JE, Tong BK, Martins RT, Fisher LP, McKenzie DK, Grunstein RR, Eckert DJ
Sleep. 2016 Apr;39(4):757-66. doi: 26715227. Epub 2015 Dec.

To determine the effects of the nonbenzodiazepine sedative zopiclone on the threshold to arousal with increasing respiratory effort and genioglossus muscle activity and to examine potential physiological factors mediating disparate effects of zopiclone on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity between patients. In a group of patients with predominantly severe OSA, zopiclone increased the arousal threshold without reducing genioglossus muscle activity or its responsiveness to negative pharyngeal pressure. These properties may be beneficial in some patients with OSA with certain pathophysiological characteristics but may worsen hypoxemia in others.