2026 ARCS Scientist of the Year

SONIA ANCOLI-ISRAEL, PHD
Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Professor of Research at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine
Director of the Sleep Disorders Clinic at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System
Co-director of the Education Unit of the VA VISN-22 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC)
 

The members of ARCS Foundation are proud to present the San Diego Chapter’s 39th Scientist of the Year, Dr. Sonia Ancoli-Israel, a world-renowned leader in sleep and circadian rhythm research. Her work has significantly advanced our understanding of sleep disorders, aging, and cancer, with meaningful improvements in patient care. Her record of scientific excellence, mentorship and dedication to advancing research reflects the core values and mission of ARCS Foundation, making her a highly deserving honoree. She was honored in 2007 with the National Sleep Foundation Life Time Achievement Award and the SRS Mary A. Carskadon Outstanding Educator Award, in 2012 with Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine Distinguished Career Award and in 2014 with the SRS Distinguished Scientist Award.

Ancoli-Israel is one of the nation's predominant experts in the fields of sleeping disorders and sleep research in aging serving as past-President of the Sleep Research Society (SRS), past-President of the Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms and founding Executive Board Member of the National Sleep Foundation. Her interests include the longitudinal effect of sleep disorders on aging, the effect of circadian rhythms on sleep, the use of light therapy to improve sleep and behavior in nursing home populations, and the relationship between circadian rhythms and cancer. She has been a guest on television and radio programs including NPR's Morning Edition and Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Ancoli-Israel is published regularly in medical and psychiatric journals and has written a book, All I Want Is a Good Night's Sleep.

Scholar Alumnus Speaker

NOAH MILMAN
Graduate student in the Sleep & Health Applied Research Program (SHARP) lab at Oregon Health & Science University, under advisor Dr. Miranda Lim.  
(ARCS Oregon Scholar Award 2021-2023, OHSU, School of Medicine)

Noah’s research, using rodent species, focuses on the relationship between early life, sleep and autism or social behavior, and development and early life sleep in all mammals.

Venue

   The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
   7600 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
  (858) 459-3728

Complimentary Valet Parking

(click on the map to go to Google Maps)