Academic History

Karen Spruyt, PhD, HDR, is affiliated with the National Institute of Medicine and Health (INSERM) and Université de Paris at Robert Debré Academic Hospital in Paris, France. Prof. Spruyt earned her degree in Clinical Psychology for Children, Adolescents, and Adults in Belgium, followed by additional master’s degrees in Child Neuropsychology in the Netherlands and Biostatistics in Belgium and the United States. She completed her doctoral studies and habilitation in Belgium, focusing on pediatric sleep problems and their relationship with daytime behavior.

Early in her career, Prof. Spruyt held academic and research positions at the University of Louisville and the University of Chicago in the United States. She has also served as a visiting or affiliated professor at several international institutions, including Monash Institute of Medical Research and the Ritchie Center for Baby Health Research in Australia, the University of British Columbia in Canada, Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, and the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil.

Prof. Spruyt is actively involved in leadership and mentorship within the sleep research community. She serves as a board member of the European Sleep Research Society, the International Pediatric Sleep Association, and the World Sleep Society, and is the EU representative on the World Sleep Society Governing Council. She also contributes to the scientific board of Rett Syndrome Europe and participates in national organizations focusing on pediatric sleep, neurodevelopment, and research methodology. In addition, she mentors the pediatric sleep program within the International Sleep Research Training Program of the World Sleep Society at the Pediatric Sleep Clinic of Robert Debré Academic Hospital.

Speaking on Pediatric Sleep, Neurodevelopment, and Translational Research

Prof. Spruyt’s research focuses on the role of sleep in child development, particularly the links between sleep, neurodevelopment, and daytime functioning. Her work combines developmental neuropsychology, somnopathology, and advanced statistical approaches to better understand pediatric sleep disorders and their broader developmental implications. She has published extensively in international peer-reviewed journals and authored books addressing pediatric sleep and neurodevelopment.

Beyond her research, Prof. Spruyt is dedicated to education and mentorship, teaching pediatric sleep research, psychology, and statistics to multidisciplinary audiences. She supervises doctoral candidates and promotes international collaboration to advance pediatric sleep science. Her work has been featured in television and radio programs and has informed governmental discussions in Europe and beyond, highlighting the importance of sleep as a key factor in healthy child development.