The brain has a waste disposal system during sleep?

Host: Associate Professor Craig Phillips

Thursday 19 June 2025, 12pm – 1pm

G03 Theatre, Ainsworth Building, 1 Wally’s Walk, Macquarie University

Overview

There are many reasons for the need for sleep, but recent research has shown that the brain has a waste disposal system which is very active during sleep. This disposal system, termed the glymphatic system, removes toxins from the brain during sleep that have built up during the day.

Associate Professor Craig Phillips will discuss the latest research on this system during sleep and provide details of his ground-breaking research trying to find out how it works during poor and healthy sleep.

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Biography

Associate Professor Craig Phillips is an internationally recognised clinical researcher who specialises in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea research.

He is currently investigating whether brain cleaning during sleep is affected by obstructive sleep apnea.

Contact Us

For more details about the series, contact us at dvc.medicine.and.health@mq.edu.au.

Main campus

Wallumattagal Campus
Balaclava Road
Macquarie University NSW 2109

City campus

Angel Place
Level 24, 123 Pitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000

Event Contact

events@mq.edu.au

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Macquarie University stands - the Wallumattagal Clan of the Dharug Nation - whose cultures and customs have nurtured, and continue to nurture, this land since time immemorial. We pay our respects to the Elders, past and present.