3 december, 2025
On November 13-14, it was that time again: an edition of the bi-annual SLAAP conference. SLAAP2025 was hosted at the NH Koningshof in Veldhoven, near Eindhoven. An intense, fun, and inspiring two days hosted at a special location: a former monastery.
Sleep researchers and clinicians from across the Netherlands, Belgium, and beyond travelled to Veldhoven and arrived bright and early on Thursday to register and attend the opening keynote: “Good clock with your health” by Frank Scheer, professor at Harvard Medical School. His talk highlighted the importance of circadian rhythms and their clinical implications—not only for sleep directly, but also for metabolism (including increased risks for obesity and diabetes) and even cancer. He discussed how misalignment between internal clocks and the central circadian clock can affect health in various ways, to the extent of how the timing of chemotherapy may matter! Scheer also linked the importance of circadian alignment to shift work, presenting evidence that daytime meal timing might reduce physiological burden in night-shift workers. It was a fascinating keynote that perfectly set the stage for the four (!) symposia related to circadian rhythms scheduled throughout the conference.
After the keynote, it was time for the first (out of two) Poster Blitz. A record of 51 posters were accepted for SLAAP2025, and a few brave researchers highlighted their posters in a short 60 second pitch. Well done to all the Blitz presenters!
The first parallel sessions forced participants to make a tough choice: a symposium on pediatric OSA, on environmental light and sleep–wake rhythms across species, on sleep in professional sports, or the first oral session featuring talks selected from submitted abstracts. Your reporter chose the latter—and was impressed by the high-quality presentations covering a wide range of topics, including transdiagnostic markers of hyperarousal, hypocretin gene expression in disorders of hypersomnolence, heart-rate-variability dynamics around apnea events, and much more.
During the lunch breaks – which included the delightful Dutch delicacy of a broodje kroket – the NSWO’s Early Career Committee organized a get-together. It was a nice informal gathering of early career researchers to connect and make plans for the remaining 1.5 days of SLAAP.
In the afternoon, the parallel symposia continued. Topics included glymphatic brain clearance, approaches to handling sleep in first-line (GP) care, new insights into central disorders of hypersomnolence, and an engaging symposium on temperature and sleep. Who knew that the temperature inside a car—and even of the steering wheel—might play a role in stimulating safe driving in people with hypersomnolence disorders? (Our very own Veronique Vael from the PR Committee presented a study on this!). The final sessions of the day offered another symposium on brain clearance (this time from a clinical perspective), the second oral session from selected abstracts, parkinsonisms, and sleep across the lifespan in women.
After all those inspiring sessions, a well-deserved borrel was consumed while discussing research at the Poster Reception. Participants were able to vote for their favorite poster using QR codes and the SLAAP2025 conference app, which sparked a healthy amount of competition among the poster presenters.
Then came the famous evening program! Instead of a traditional sit-down dinner, participants enjoyed a standing dinner with a wide variety of food options (from poke bowls to Oer-Hollandse hutspot), alongside circulating bites and, of course, an open bar.
Once everyone had eaten, it was time to move. The iconic dynamic multi-colored dance floor from SLAAP2023 made a return— but even bigger and better than before—and set the stage for an energetic dance party accompanied by a live band. Later in the night, the band morphed into a DJ act with live elements. Although the dance floor gradually emptied as wise participants prepared for an early next morning, a few brave souls stayed until the very last tunes.
Stay tuned for Day 2 of SLAAP2025!
Written by Ploon de Potter