Robert E. Roberts, PhD professor University of Texas School of Public Health
	Collaborative Sleep Disorder Study with Japanese University
Dr. Robert E. Roberts has long been associated with the University of Texas School of Public Health and a strong admirer of international support. As a researcher he has been involved in numerous projects that span over 5 continents and as an educator has opened the minds of countless students.  As a result, Dr. Roberts’ collaborative study with a former student, now professor in Japan, is a recipient of the 2006 International Program Award. Dr. Roberts is working in collaboration with Kazuo Takeuchi, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H, a professor in the Department of Health and Welfare at the Takasaki University of Health in Japan.  While most of their collaboration has been involved in the area of depression among adolescents, with the help of the award they hope to expand their research in Japan to focus on insomnia and other symptoms of disturbed sleep. Dr. Roberts believes that the impact of disturbed sleep on future functioning of adolescents is substantial.  “Youths with insomnia and other sleep problems are at a greatly increased risk of depression, anxiety, anger, emotional liability, inattention and conduct problems,” explains Dr. Roberts. “They also report more suicidal ideation and attempts as well as somatic health problems.” Dr. Roberts will use the funds to translate a sleep assessment battery into Japanese.  Dr. Takeuchi and his students will conduct the pilot study in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.  They hope to collect data on over 3000 student and have it completed by the end of the summer of 2007. Ultimately, Dr. Roberts hopes to use the resulting data to obtain funds for a larger study in Japan through the National Institute of Health and Monbusho, the Japanese equivalent.