Christopher Gordon

Christopher Gordon served as Associate Professor in the Susan Wakil School of Nursing within the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney from 2010 to 2023 and maintains an affiliate position there. He is currently Professor of Sleep Health in the Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences at Macquarie University, and Research Leader of Insomnia and Chronobiology in the Sleep and Circadian Research Group at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research since 2012. With more than 20 years as an academic and prior service as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Intensive Care at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for 11 years, Gordon possesses deep clinical and educational expertise. He earned a PhD in Physiology from the University of Wollongong in 2010, focusing on thermoregulatory and non-thermoregulatory factors influencing thermoeffector function during exercise and rest; a Master of Exercise Science (Research) from Australian Catholic University in 2001, examining hydrostatic and thermal influences on intravascular volume; and a Graduate Certificate of Business in 2006. Gordon has occupied senior teaching leadership positions such as Director of Postgraduate Studies, Coordinator of Postgraduate Coursework, and Honours Coordinator, and holds Senior Fellow status with the Higher Education Academy since 2021.

Gordon directs a multidisciplinary team exploring the pathophysiological underpinnings of insomnia, including electroencephalographic slow wave dissipation, skin temperature-sleep-vigilance relationships, wearable-based sleep disturbance prediction, digital sleep health interventions for insomnia and cognitive decline, and lighting interventions to enhance sleep and cognition. He has established Australia's largest insomnia database, featuring extensive clinical, psychophysiological, and treatment data. His contributions include randomized controlled trials of digital therapeutics and non-pharmacological chronotherapies for circadian disruptions, alongside fostering industry-academic collaborations. Notable awards encompass the Australian Awards for University Teaching in 2017, Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2018, and Vice-Chancellor's Award in 2016. Gordon's publication record exceeds 105 peer-reviewed articles and 147 research outputs, with over 4,700 citations. Key works include 'Cannabinol for Acute Treatment of Insomnia Disorder in a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial' (2026), 'Digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia Compared to Sleep Health Education in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Insomnia: A Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial' (2026), 'Is Metabolic Rate Increased in Insomnia Disorder? A Systematic Review' (2018), and 'Light-based methods for predicting circadian phase in delayed sleep-wake phase disorder' (2021). His research significantly impacts sleep health management and therapeutic innovation.

Professional Email: christopher.gordon@sydney.edu.au