Sleep research has a major part to play in facilitating the development of sleep medicine. In China, the development of sleep medicine started later compared with other medical disciplines, and related advances have been seldom reported.

To review the development of sleep research in China by analyzing sleep research projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) , providing data for future development of sleep research.

Data were collected from the NSFC, including the supported projects regarding sleep-disordered breathing (code H0113) and sleep and sleep disorders (code H0916) as well as those with corresponding codes involving sleep or sleep disorder of Department of Health Sciences, and supported projects involving sleep or sleep disorder in Departments of Life Sciences. The number and composition of supported projects and funding amount, geographical, regional and institutional distribution of supported projects in terms of number and funding amount were statistically analyzed.

From 1988 to 2019, the sleep research projects supported by the NSFC numbered 399 in total. The number of these projects and the founding amount for them showed an increasing trend, particularly after 2010. The types of projects were gradually enriched, among which four were key projects, while no key talent projects had been supported. The geographical and institutional distribution of supported projects was uneven, presenting a tendency of aggregation in some specific regions and institutions, and a pattern of Matthew effect. Colleges and universities were the main body of sleep research. At present, sleep research is mainly based on basic experiments and clinical applications.

In general, the level and composition distribution of sleep research projects supported by the NSFC during the period demonstrated a trend of gradual enhancement, but still need improvements. To promote the development of sleep medicine, it is recommended to strengthen the reserve force via improving the top-level design and macro layout concerning NSFC supported projects, and to achieve early prevention, appropriate diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders via taking advantage of interdisciplinary cooperation and integration.

睡眠研究对于推动睡眠医学的发展发挥着重要作用，但相对于其他医学学科，我国睡眠医学的发展起步较晚，国内缺乏对于睡眠研究领域进展的相关研究。

基于国家自然科学基金视角回顾我国睡眠研究发展进程，为未来学科发展提供数据基础。

数据来源于国家自然科学基金委员会，从中筛选出医学科学部"睡眠呼吸障碍"（代码为H0113）和"睡眠与睡眠障碍"（代码为H0916）所有立项项目，以及医学科学部其他代码和生命科学部中包含"睡眠"或"睡病"的立项项目。分析睡眠研究领域立项项目的数量与构成、资助金额、立项数量与资助金额的地域分布、机构分布情况。

1988—2019年，睡眠研究领域共立项399项，立项总数、资助金额呈增长趋势，特别是2010年以后增长较明显；项目类型逐渐丰富，立项重点项目4项，但未立项重要人才类项目；项目的地域和机构分布不均衡，存在"聚集趋势"和"马太效应"，高等院校是睡眠研究领域的主体。现阶段睡眠研究以基础实验类和临床应用类为主。

睡眠研究的立项水平和层次不断提升，但仍需进一步提高，建议从顶层设计和宏观布局，增强睡眠研究领域的后备力量，依靠学科交叉融合，实现睡眠障碍的早期预防和诊疗干预精准化，共同推动睡眠医学学科发展。