About Sleepio

Co-founded by world sleep expert Professor Colin Espie, Sleepio is dedicated to helping people sleep better. We're doing this in a number of ways:

1. Research. Since March 2010 we have been measuring the world's sleep. To date over 12,000 people have completed the World Sleep Survey and the Great British Sleep Survey, and we are aiming for it to become the world's largest body of population sleep data. The output is of great academic value, allowing us to gain a greater understanding of sleep, the factors that affect it and its impact on everyday life.
2. Awareness. By creating partnerships with organisations such as the Guardian, the Observer and the Mental Health Foundation we are raising the profile of sleep problems and the huge impact they can have on every aspect of a sufferer's mental and physical wellbeing.
3. Treatment. We are using the information from the Great British Sleep Survey, existing research evidence and technical innovation to create groundbreaking new ways to treat sleep problems.

About our Founders

• Professor Colin Espie

  Professor Colin Espie is Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of the Sleep Centre at the University of Glasgow. He chairs the Scientific Committe of the European Sleep Research Society and leads the World Sleep Federation's insomnia task force. He has been researching sleep and sleep problems for over 25 years.

  Professor Espie's research interests include the pathophysiology of insomnia (with an emphasis upon neurocognitive processes), primary and secondary sleep disturbance (particularly sleep and depression, and sleep and cancer), cognitive behavioural treatments for insomnia, critical mechanisms in CBT and issues of sleep therapy compliance.

• Peter Hames

  Peter Hames holds a BA Hons degree in Experimental Psychology from Oxford University, and overcame his chronic insomnia by applying cognitive and behavioural techniques refined by Professor Espie. This transformative experience prompted him to seek out ways of getting evidence-based information and treatment to the huge numbers of sleepless people who need it. His background professionally spans technology and marketing, and is now applying those skills to help Sleepio meet its goals.

Our advisors

• Martha Lane Fox - UK Digital Champion

  As co-founder of lastminute.com Martha became an icon of the first internet boom in the early 2000s. She is now the British Government's UK Digital Champion, attempting to get 100% of the nation online and to improve public services using technology. She also serves on the boards of Marks&Spencer, Channel 4 and mydeco.com, and is Chairman of the social singing business Lucky Voice.

• Prof Sir Neil Douglas - Chairman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.

  Sir Neil Douglas MD(Edin) DSc(Edin) HonMD(StA) FRCP FRCPE is Chairman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Professor of Respiratory & Sleep Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and an Honorary Consultant Physician at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. He has long championed the provision of clinical services for sleep disorders in the UK. Previous roles included President of the British Sleep Society and President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

• Stephanie Somerville - Senior Policy Advisor, Department of Health.

  Stephanie is a Senior Policy Advisor at the Department of Health, having previously worked at the Cabinet Office on the reform of public services. She worked as a personal advisor to former Minister, Lord Ara Darzi, the architect of the NHS Next Stage Review under the Labour administration and has worked closely with the Mental Health Tsar, Louis Applebly on fundamental changes to mental health law. She now advises Ministers more generally on health policy and strategy.