Emmanuel Mignot

Emmanuel Mignot is a prominent sleep disorders researcher, best known for his work on narcolepsy. He is currently the Craig Reynolds Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, and the director of the Stanford Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine.

Early Life and Education

Emmanuel Mignot was born in France. He received his MD and PhD from the University of Paris. His doctoral research focused on neuropharmacology, specifically the role of peptides in brain function.

Career

Mignot moved to the United States in 1986 to join the Stanford University School of Medicine. He has been a faculty member at Stanford since 1993. His research primarily focuses on the neurobiology, genetics, and treatment of narcolepsy, a chronic sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, and abnormal REM sleep.

In 1999, Mignot and his team discovered that narcolepsy is caused by a deficiency in the hypocretin (also known as orexin) neurotransmitter system. This groundbreaking discovery has had a profound impact on our understanding of sleep and its disorders, and has opened up new avenues for the treatment of narcolepsy and other sleep disorders.

Awards and Honors

Mignot has received numerous awards for his contributions to sleep research, including the William C. Dement Academic Achievement Award from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award from the Sleep Research Society. He is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine.

External Links

• Stanford University Profile