Dr Teresa Arora PhD CPsychol AFBPsS CSci FHEA

Areas of Interest

I have a wealth of sleep research experience and a diverse range of skills that I have acquired over the course of my research career.

Whilst I am interested in and passionate about every aspect of sleep, my main area of interest is in adolescent sleep, although I have worked with age groups across the lifespan including young children and older adults.

I am also engaged and experienced in the associations between sleep and metabolic/endocrine function and I am currently involved in a number of sleep and metabolism studies.

Contact Details

Publications

Original Research Articles

Sulaiman, S., Tsiga-Ahmed, F., Arora, T., Faris, M., Musa, Muhammed., Kareem, Y., … Khan, M. A. B. (2023). Perceived changes in the mental wellbeing among Nigerians due to Ramadan Intermittent Fasting during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2023). Brain and Behavior, 13(5): e2990. doi: 10.1002/brb3.2990

Khan, M. A. B., BaHammam, A. S., Amanatullah, A., Obaideen, K., Arora, T., Ali, H., … Faris, E. (2023). Examination of sleep-in relation to dietary and lifestyle behaviors during Ramadan: A multi-national study using Structural Equation Modelling among 24,500 adults. Frontiers in Nutrition, 10. doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1040355

Lambert, L., Joshanloo, M., Marquez, J. M., Cody, B., Arora, T., Warren, M., Aguilar, L., Samways, M., & Teasel, S. (2022). Boosting Student Wellbeing Despite a Pandemic: Positive Psychology Interventions and the Impact of Sleep in the United Arab Emirates. International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-022-00066-2.

Grey, I., Arora, T., & Saneh, A. (2022). Generalized anxiety mediates the relationship between loneliness and sleep quality amongst young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological Reports, 0 (0), 1-17. Doi: 10.1177/00332941221079723

Arora, T., Barbato, M., Al Hemeiri, S., Omar, O. M., & AlJassmi, M. (2021). A mysterious sensation about sleep and health: the role of interoception. BMC Public Health, 21, 1584. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11603-0

Lambert, L., Draper, Z. A., Warren, M. A., Joshanloo, M., Chiao, E. L., Schwam, A., & Arora, T. (2021). Conceptions of Happiness Matter: Relationships Between Fear and Fragility of Happiness and Mental and Physical Wellbeing. Journal of Happiness Studies. In Press.

Barbato, M., Arora, T., AlHemeiri, S., & AlJassmi, M. A. (2021). Looking within: Interoceptive sensibility in young adults with psychotic-like experiences. Early Intervention in Psychiatry. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.13117

Thomas, J., Barbato, M., Verlinden, M., Gaspar, C., Moussa, M., Ghorayeb, J., Menon, A., Figueiras, M. J., Arora, T., & Bentall, R. P. (2020). Psychosocial correlates of depression and anxiety in the United Arab Emirates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psychiatry. Doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.564172

Denison, H. J., Jameson, K. A., Sayer, A. A., Patel, H. P., Edwards, M. H., Arora, T., Dennison, E. M., Cooper, C., & Baird, J. (2021). Poor sleep quality and physical performance in older adults. Sleep Health: Journal of the National Sleep Foundation, 7 (2), 205-211. Doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2020.10.002.

Arora, T., Alhelali, E., & Grey, I. (2020). Poor sleep efficiency and daytime napping are risk factors of depersonalization disorder in female university students. Neurobiology of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms, 9, 100059.

Grey, I., Arora, T., Thomas, J., Saneh, A., Tomhe, P., & Habib, R. A. (2020). The Role of Perceived Social Support on Depression and Sleep during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Psychiatry Research, 293: 113452. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113452.

Lam, S. C., Arora, T., Grey, I., Suen, L. K. P., Huang, E. Y. Z., Li, D., & Lam, K. B. H. (2020). Perceived risk and protection from infection in Mainland China and Hong Kong during COVID-19: an online survey. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00686

Arora, T., & Al-Houqani, M. (2020). Comparison of commonly used screening tools for determining obstructive sleep apnea amongst aviation employees. Sleep Medicine, 77, 332-336. Doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2020.07.008.

Choudhury S, Omar OM, Arora T, Rifai NA, Chagoury O, Taheri S. Qatar Obesity Reduction Study (QORS): Report on a Pilot School-based Nutrition Education Campaign in Qatar. Journal of Childhood Obesity, 3, DOI: 10.21767/2572-5394.100065.

Arora T, Gad H, Omar OM, Choudhury SM, Chagoury O, Sheikh J, Taheri S. The associations among objectively estimated sleep and obesity indicators in elementary schoolchildren. Sleep Medicine. 2018; 47: 25-31.

Arora T, Albahri A, Omar OM, Sharara A, Taheri S. The prospective association between electronic device use before bedtime and academic attainment in adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health 2018; 63: 451-458.

Pallayova M, Zaghloul HB, Arora T, Choudhury SM, Omar OM, Chagoury OL, Taheri S. Investigating physiological glucose excursions before, during, and after Ramadan in adults without diabetes mellitus. Physiology & Behavior. 2017; 179: 110-115.

Arora T, Al Ketbi S, Mubarak M, Al Othali A, Al Hajri S, Al Messabi A, Al Jneibi F. The relationship between dieting and levels of perceived psychological stress in United Arab Emirates residents. Arab Journal of Nutrition and Exercise. 2017; 2(1): 72-82.

Short MA, Arora T, Gradisar M, Taheri S, Carskadon M. How many sleep diary entries are needed to reliably estimate adolescent sleep? SLEEP. 2017; 40(3): zsx006.

Sathyanarayana A, Joty S, Fernandez-Luque L, Ofli F, Srivastava J, Elmagarmid A, Arora T, Taheri S. Sleep Quality Prediction From Wearable Data Using Deep Learning. JMIR Health Uhealth. 2016;4(4):e125 doi:10.2196/mhealth.6562.

Choudhury S, Arora T, Alebbi S, Ahmed L, Aden A, Omar OM, Taheri S. How do Qataris source health information? PLOS ONE. 2016; 11(11): e0166250. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0166250

Arora T, Omar OM, Taheri S. Assessment for the possibility of a first night effect for wrist actigraphy in adolescents. BMJ Open. 2016; 6(10): e012172

Arora T, Chen MZ, Cooper AR, Andrews RC, Taheri S. The impact of sleep debt on excess adiposity and insulin sensitivity in patients with early type 2 diabetes mellitus. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2016; Jan 15. pii: jc-00253-15.

Arora T, Chen MZ, Omar MO, Cooper AR, Andrews RC, Taheri S. An investigation of the associations among sleep duration and quality, body mass index and insulin resistance in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2016; 7(1): 3-11.

Brown A, Gouldstone A, Fox E, Field A, Todd W, Shakher J, Bellary S, Teh MM, Azam M, John R, Jagielski A, Arora T, Thomas GN, Taheri S. Description and preliminary results from a structured specialist behavioural weight management group intervention: Specialist Lifestyle Management (SLiM) Programme. BMJ Open. 2015; 5:e007217. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007217

Arora T, Taheri S. Associations Between Late Chronotype, Body Mass Index and Dietary Behaviors in Young Adolescents. International Journal of Obesity. 2015; 39: 39-44.

Arora T, Broglia EL, Thomas GN, Taheri S. Associations between specific technologies and adolescent sleep quantity, sleep quality, and parasomnias. Sleep Medicine. 2014; 15 (2): 240-7. Doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2013.08.799.

Banerjee D, Leong WB, Arora T, Nolen M, Punamiya V, et al. (2013) The Potential Association between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Diabetic Retinopathy in Severe Obesity—The Role of Hypoxemia. PLoS ONE 8(11): e79521. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0079521.

Arora T, Broglia EL, Pushpakumar D, Lodhi T, Taheri S (2013) An Investigation into the Strength of the Association and Agreement Levels between Subjective and Objective Sleep Duration in Adolescents. PLoS ONE 8(8): e72406. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0072406.

Leong WB, Arora T, Jenkinson D, Thomas A, Punamiya V, Banerjee D, Taheri S. The prevalence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea in severe obesity: the impact of ethnicity. J Clin Sleep Med 2013; 9 (9): 853-858.

Arora T, Hussain S, KBH Lam, et al. Exploring the complex pathways among specific types of technology, sleep duration and body mass index in UK adolescents. International Journal of Obesity. 2013; 37 (0): 1254-60. Doi: 10.1038/ijo.2012.209.

Arora T, Hosseini Araghi M, Bishop J, Yao GL, Thomas G Neil, Taheri S. The complexity of obesity in UK adolescents: relationships with quantity and type of technology, sleep duration and quality, academic performance and aspiration. Pediatric Obesity. 2013; 8 (5): 358-66. Doi: 10.1111/j.2047-6310.2012.00119.x.

Arora T, Jiang CQ, Zhang WS, Lam KB, Cheng KK, Lam TH, Thomas GN, Taheri S. Self-reported long total sleep duration is associated with increased risk of the metabolic syndrome: The Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study. Diabetes Care 2011;34 (10): 2317-9.

Lam KB, Jiang CQ, Thomas GN, Arora T, Zhang WS, Taheri S, Adab P, Lam TH, Chang KK. Napping is associated with increased risk of type 2 Diabetes: the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study. Sleep 2010;33:402-407.

Conference Papers

Sathyanarayana A, Olli F, Luque L, Arora T, Srivastava J, Taheri S. Robust Automated Human Activity Recognition and its Application to Sleep Research. IEEE ICDM workshop on Data Mining in Human Activity Analysis (DMHAA) 2016.

Reviews

Arnone, D., Omar, O. M., Arora, T., Ostlundh, L., Ramaraj, R., Javaid, S., … Stip, E. (2022). Effectiveness of pharmacogenetic tests including CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 genomic variants for guiding the treatment of depressive disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104965

Arora, T., Grey, I., Ostlundh, L., Alamoodi, A., Omar, O. M., Lam, K, B, H., & Grandner, M. A systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the relationship between sleep duration/quality, mental toughness and resilience amongst healthy individuals. Sleep Medicine Reviews, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2022.101593

Short, M. A., Booth, S. A., Omar, O. M., Ostlundh, L., & Arora, T. (2020) The relationship between sleep duration and mood in adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 52: 101311. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2020.101311.

Arora, T., Grey, I., Ostlundh, L., Lam, K. B. H., Omar, O. M., & Arnone, D. (2020). The prevalence of psychological consequences of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Journal of Health Psychology. In Press.

Arora, T., & Grey, I. (2020). Health behaviour changes during COVID-19 and the potential consequences: A mini-review. Journal of Health Psychology, 25(9), 1155-1163. doi: 10.1177/1359105320937053

Arora T, Agouba S, Sharara A, Taheri S. The role of genetic, dietary and lifestyle factors in pediatric metabolic syndrome: a review of the literature from prenatal to adolescence. Arab Journal of Nutrition and Exercise. 2017; 2(1): 1-32.

Arora T, Taheri S. Is sleep education an effective tool for sleep improvement and minimizing metabolic disturbance and obesity in adolescents? Sleep Medicine Reviews 2016; doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2016.08.004.

Arora T, Taheri S. Sleep Optimization and Diabetes Control: A Review of the Literature. Diabetes Therapy. 2015; 1-44; doi.org/10.1007/s13300-015-0141-z

Arora T, Choudhury S, Taheri S. The Relationships Among Sleep, Nutrition, and Obesity. Current Sleep Medicine Reports. 2015; DOI 10.1007/s40675-015-0030-z

Protocols

Statsenko, Y., Smetanina, D., Arora, T., Ostlundh, L., Habuza, T., Simiyu, L., … Ljubisavljevic, M. (2023). Multimodal diagnostics in multiple sclerosis: predicting disability and conversion from relapsing-remitting to secondary progressive disease course – protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 0:e068608. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068608.

Tsenoli, M., Khan, M. A. B., Ostlundh, L., Arora, T., & Omar, O. M. (2022). Complementary feeding practices and the associated risk of childhood obesity among ethnic minority groups living in high-income countries: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open.

Selvaraj, S., Arora, T., Montiel, T. C., Grey, I., Alfraih, H., Fadipe, M., … Savitz, S. (2021). Early screening for post-stroke depression, and the effect on functional outcomes, quality of life and mortality: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 11(8), e050451. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050451.

Gonot-Schoupinsky, F. N., Garip, G., Sheffield, D., Omar, O. M., & Arora, T. (2020). Prescribing laughter to ameliorate mental health and wellbeing in university students: A protocol for a feasibility study of a randomised controlled trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications. In Press.

Books

Arora, T., & Grey, I. (2019). Sleep, Obesity, and Cardiometabolic Risk in Children and Adolescents. In M. Grandner (Eds.), Sleep and Health. Elseveir.

Hampson P, Rossi A, Arora T, Lord JM, Taheri S. Sleep and immunity in older age. In Psychoneuroimmunology of Aging (Eds JA Bosch, AC Phillips and JM Lord), Springer Publishing. In Press.

Arora T, Taheri S. Sleep and the metabolic syndrome. In Encyclopedia of Sleep and Dreams: The Evolution, Function, Nature, and Mysteries of Slumber (Eds. D Barrett & P McNamara). 2012; ABC-CLIO Greenwood.

Invited Editorials

Arora T, Salem-AlMurry A. Education and Supplementation to Overcome Malnutrition in Pregnant Mothers for Improving Offspring Development. Global Journal of Endocrinological Metabolism 2018; 2 (3): 1-2.

Arora T. Timing Sleep to Support Mental Health. EC Psychology and Psychiatry 2018; 7 (7): 344-346.

Arora T. Sleep doesn't waste time, it's good for the waist line. SLEEP 2015; 38 (8): 1159-1160.

Taheri S, Arora T. Early Bed for Early Birds: Curbing the Evening Calories. Journal of Adolescent Health 2015; 57: 5-6

Arora T, Taheri S. Sleep deprivation and circadian disruption in obesity and diabetes. Diabesity in Practice 2012; 1 (2): 49-50.

Arora T, Thomas GN, Taheri S. Obesity can no longer be solely attributed to energy disparity: sleep also fits the equation. Clinical Practice. 2014; 11 (3): 247-9.

Commentaries

Arora T. Commentary on Covington, et al., Toddler Bedtime Routines and Associations With Nighttime Sleep Duration, and Maternal and Household Factors. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2019.

Kandula NR, Patel SR. Sleep Apnea and Cardiometabolic Risk in South Asians. J Clin Sleep Med 2013; 9 (9).

Abstracts

Alhelali E, & Arora T. Exploring the relationship between sleep and depersonalization. 33rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. San Antonio, Texas, USA; June 8-12, 2019.

Al Beshr F, & Arora T. Assessing the relationship between sleep quality, anger and aggression. 33rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. San Antonio, Texas, USA; June 8-12, 2019.

Al Houquani M, & Arora T. Comparison of Commonly Used Questionnaires to Identify Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Pilots. 33rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. San Antonio, Texas, USA; June 8-12, 2019.

Arora T. The association between sleep beliefs and sleep behaviour in university students. 33rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. San Antonio, Texas, USA; June 8-12, 2019.

Elhassan SAM, Arora T, Labwani R, Salah M. The effect of social media use on teens sleep. Excellence in Pediatrics, London UK; 8-10 December 2016.

Albahri A, Arora T, Omar OM, Taheri S. Electronic Device Use and Academic Performance in Adolescents. American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition. San Francisco, USA; 22-25 October 2016.

Arora T, Chen MZ, Cooper AR, Andrews RC, Taheri S. The Impact of Sleep Debt on Adiposity and Insulin Sensitivity in Patients with Early Diabetes. 29th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. Seattle, USA; 6-10 June 2015.

Arora T, Elshakh H, Choudhury S, Taheri S. The Relationships between Sleep Duration and Sleep Inertia with Dietary Behaviors in Young Adolescents. 29th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. Seattle, USA; 6-10 June 2015.

Arora T, Bayoumy K, Chagoury O, Zaghlool H, Orabi C, Choudhury S, Taheri S. The potential consequence of increased adiposity during Ramadan upon glucose levels. Arab Diabetes Medical Congress. Doha, Qatar; 23-25 April 2015.

Arora T, Chen MZ, Cooper AR, Andrews RC, Taheri S. The Impact of Sleep Debt on Adiposity and Insulin Sensitivity in Patients with Early Diabetes. 15th Annual Rachmiel Levine Diabetes and Obesity Symposium. San Diego, USA; 1-4 March 2015.

Arora T, Chen MZ, Cooper AR, Andrews RC, Taheri S. The Impact of Sleep Debt on Adiposity and Insulin Sensitivity in Patients with Early Diabetes. ENDO 2015, late breaking abstract. San Diego, USA; 5-8 March 2015.

Denison HJ, Jameson KA, Baird J, Arora T, Patel HP, Edwards MH, Aihie Sayer A, Dennison EM, Cooper C. Poor sleep quality and physical performance in older adults. Society for Social Medicine, 58th Annual Scientific Meeting. Oxford, UK; 10-12 September 2014.

Bakhshandeh A, Arora T, Taheri S. Daytime sleepiness levels are associated with academic performance and psychological health in UK adolescents. 22nd Congress of the European Sleep Research Society. Tallinn, Estonia; 16-20 September 2014.

Arora T, Chen MZ, Cooper AR, Andrews RC, Taheri S. An Investigation of the Associations among Sleep Duration and Quality, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and Insulin Resistance. Abstract 0721. Sleep, 2014. Minneapolis, USA.

*Arora T, Taheri S. Late Chronotype Is Associated With Increased Body Mass Index And Poorer Dietary Behaviors. Abstract 0110. Sleep, 2014. Minneapolis, USA.

Leong WB, Arora T, Jenkisnon D, Thomas A, Punamiya V, Banerjee D, Taheri S. The role of ethnicity concerning the prevalence and severity of obstructive sleep apnoea in severely obese patients. Society for Social Medicine, 57th Annual Scientific Meeting. Brighton, UK; 11-13 September 2013.

Brown A, Arora T, Richardson M, Nijar R, Khaki R, Wright A, Abernethy G, Taheri S, Super P. Frequency of Dietary Advice Prior To Bariatric Surgery Improves Weight Loss Outcome At 12 Months. 18th World Congress of International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO), 28-31 August 2013, Istanbul, Turkey.

Neira I, Arora T, Taheri S, Higgs S. Eating your feelings: Relationships between Alexithymia and unhealthy eating habits in adolescents. The 37th Annual Meeting of the British Feeding and Drinking Group (BFDG) 2013. Loughborough, UK.

Arora T, Jiang CQ, Taheri S, Cheng KK, Lam TH, Thomas G Neil. Napping, and not sleep duration, is associated with leptin levels in older Chinese adults. Abstract 1622328. Sleep, 2013. Baltimore, USA.

*Arora T, Jiang CQ, Taheri S, Cheng KK, Lam TH, Thomas G Neil. The association between daily napping and markers of inflammation and immunity in older Chinese adults. Abstract 1622358. Sleep, 2013. Baltimore, USA.

Arora T, Broglia EL, Pushpakumar D, Lodhi T, Thomas G Neil, Taheri S. Validation of two self-reported sleep duration measures against objective estimates of sleep duration in a large UK adolescent cohort. Abstract 1622662. Sleep, 2013. Baltimore, USA.

Broglia EL, Arora T, Thomas G Neil, Taheri S. Characterizing Adolescent Sleep and its Impact on Daily Function in the UK. Abstract 1623026. Sleep, 2013. Baltimore, USA.

Arora T, Broglia E, Thomas G Neil, Taheri S. Exploring the complex pathways among specific types of modern technology, sleep duration and body mass index in UK adolescents. Society for Social Medicine 56th Annual Scientific Meeting 12-14 September 2012. London, UK.

Arora T, Hussain S, Thomas G Neil, Taheri S. Exploring the complex pathways among specific types of technology, sleep duration and body mass index in UK adolescents. European Sleep Research Society 4-8 September 2012. Paris, France.

Arora T, Broglia EL, Thomas G Neil, Taheri S. The effects of technology types on sleep and its associated parameters in contemporary UK adolescents. European Sleep Research Society 4-8 September 2012. Paris, France.

Arora T, Thomas G Neil, Taheri S. A pilot intervention to investigate the feasibility of extending sleep duration to reduce body weight in short sleeping obese individuals. Treatment of Obesity Conference 29 June 2012. Birmingham, UK.

*Arora T, Thomas G Neil, Taheri S. Investigating the effects of specific technologies upon sleep duration in UK adolescents. Abstract 1313186. Sleep, 2012. Boston, USA.

Arora T, Thomas G Neil, Taheri S. Examining the relationships between sleep duration, obesity predictive behaviours and body mass index in UK adolescents. Abstract 1313181. Sleep, 2012. Boston, USA.

Arora T, Thomas G Neil, Taheri S. A pilot intervention to investigate the feasibility of extending sleep duration to reduce body weight in short sleeping obese individuals. Abstract 1313177. Sleep, 2012. Boston, USA.

Broglia EL, Arora T, Thomas G Neil, Taheri S. Exploring the association between disrupted sleep and mood issues in UK adolescents. Abstract 131947. Sleep, 2012. Boston, USA.

Arora T, Yao L, Hussain S, Thomas G Neil, Taheri S. A population study examining the role of sleep duration as a mediator of the interactions between technology use and obesity in adolescence. Sixth Annual Conference on Pediatric Sleep Medicine 27-30 October, 2011, Florida, USA.

Arora T, Broglia E, Hampson P, Lord J, Taheri S. Sleep duration and quality in elders and its relationship with health status. Aging and Sleep meeting 25-26 June, 2010, Lyon, France.

Arora T, KB Lam, Jiang CQ, Zhang WS, Cheng KK, Lam TH, Taheri S, Thomas GN. Long sleep duration is associated with the metabolic syndrome: The Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study. Abstract 0305. Sleep 2010;33.

Arora T, Lam KH, oHartaigh B, Broglia EL, Wheeler G, Campbell M, Thomas GN, Taheri S. Relationships between sleep and technology use, body mass index and academic performance in a cohort of UK adolescents. Abstract 0285. Sleep 2010; 33.

Broglia EL, Arora T, Hampson P, Lord JM, Taheri S. Sleep duration and quality in elders and its relationship with health status. Abstract 1045. Sleep 2010; 33.

*Arora T, Lam KH, Jiang CQ, Zhang WS, Cheng KK, Thomas GN, Lam TH, Taheri S. Adverse cardiometabolic risk and napping: The Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study. Abstract 0982. Sleep, 2009. Seattle, USA.

Arora T, Lam KH, Jiang CQ, Thomas GN, Zhang WS, Taheri S, Adab P, Lam TH, Cheng KK. Napping is associated with an increased risk of the metabolic syndrome. Abstract P128. British Endocrine Society Annual Meeting, 2009. Harrogate, UK.

Abstracts marked with * have been accepted for oral presentation

Articles

1. Arora T, Taheri S. Why it pays to get a good night's sleep. Diabetes Wellness News 2009; 11 (8): 4-5.
2. www.endocrinology.org/careers/profile/profile-arora.html
3. Readers Digest news page (Diabetes), Australia.
4. Arora T. Sleepy Scents. Cosmopolitan May 2011; 206-8.

Oral Presentations

Media Coverage

Radio

TV

Academic Appointments

Zayed University
Chair of Psychology Department
July 2022 - present

Zayed University
Assistant Professor (Psychology)
Jan 2017 - present

Weill Cornell Medicine
Postdoctoral Associate (Medicine)
Sept 2013 - Feb 2017

University of Birmingham
Post-doctoral Fellow
Oct 2011 - Sept 2013

University of Birmingham
PhD Scholarship Student
Feb 2008 - Oct 2011

Qualifications

Awards

• Provost Research Fellowship 2019; Zayed University
• Travel merit award based on scientific merit 2015; Sleep Research Society
• Travel Fellowship to attend 2014 Sleep Training Workshop, UCLA; WebSciences International
• Travel merit award based on scientific merit 2013; Sleep Research Society
• Student Researcher of the Year 2010, Association for the Study of Obesity
• Travel merit award based on scientific merit 2010; Sleep Research Society
• Travel merit award based on scientific merit 2009; Sleep Research Society
• Travel and attendance award at the British Endocrinology Society Annual Meeting, 2009; British Endocrinology Society
• Travel, accommodation and attendance award at the British Physiological Society Meeting, 2008; British Physiological Society

Memberships

• Associate Fellow, British Psychological Society (AFBPsS)
• Sleep Research Society (221412)
• British Psychological Society (176277) – Chartered Status

Positions Held

Department Lead for Students of Determination (2019-present).

Editorial Board Member for Interventions in Obesity and Diabetes - Details

Editorial Board member of the Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism.

Editorial Board member of Case Reports Journal.

Editorial Board for Sleep and Vigilance.

Editorial Board for Journal of Clinical Case Reports.

International Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Epidemiological Research.

Associate Editor for International Journal of Medical and Clinical Sciences (Spring Journals).

Communications and Memberships Committee Member - Sleep Research Society.

Sub-committee member of the Trainee Education Advisory Committee (TEAC) for the Trainee Symposia Series at Sleep 2013 Annual International Meeting (Baltimore, USA).

Member of the newsletter editorial team for the Society of Social Medicine (SSM) (January 2013-December 2013).

Postgraduate Seminar Series Co-ordinator/Organiser for College of Medical and Dental Sciences (January 2013-September 2013).

Communications Sub-Committee Member for Society of Social Medicine (January 2013-December 2013).

Teaching

In my current role at Zayed University, I have taught a wide range of Psychology courses to undergraduate students including Health Psychology, Psychological Assessment, Biological Basis of Behaviour, Introduction to Psychology. I have also supervised approximately 50 students to completion with their independent research projects, some of which have been published, and I have also played a key role in supervising many students for their internship work placements.

I was previously involved in teaching research methodology, critical appraisal and literature searching to Qatar Nationals as well as Clinical Research Coordinators at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar.” To “Previously involved in teaching research methodology, critical appraisal and literature searching to Qatar Nationals as well as Clinical Research Coordinators at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar.

Fellowship status with the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
Previous lecturing to undergraduate Psychology students at University of Birmingham.

Previous Research Involvement

I have been involved in a wide range of sleep and metabolic research studies, incorporating a diverse array of methodological designs and approaches. The main studies where I had extensive previous involvement include, but are not limited to:

1. Sleep Beliefs Study
2. Laughter therapy to improve sleep and mental health outcomes
3. A randomised controlled trial to assess the feasibility of sleep improvement on weight loss and weight loss maintenance
4. Assessing the best screening tool for OSA in airline pilots
5. Effect of stress and sleep on productivity and performance in corporate employees
6. Qatar's Ultimate Education for Sleep in Teenagers (QUEST)
7. Qatar Universal Diabetes Outcome Study (QUDOS)
8. Qatar Advanced Registry of Disorders of Sleep (QARDS)
9. Qatar's Obesity Reduction Study (QORS)
10. Metabolics And Diet (MAD)
11. Actigraphy Validation Study (AVS)
12. Reg4All
13. Sleep Extension and Diet Study (SEDS)
14. An investigation into the potential health benefits of intermittent fasting
15. The Midlands Adolescent Schools Sleep Education Study (MASSES)
16. Randomized controlled trial for a medical device
17. Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (GBCS)
18. Australian Centre for Education in Sleep (ACES)
19. Primary Care Research Into Diabetes Evolution (PRIDE)
20. Early Activity in Diabetes (ACTID)
21. Qualitative study to assess the barriers of sleep optimization
22. Experimental chronic sleep manipulation to examine impact on metabolic hormones, energy expenditure and energy intake
23. Assessment of sleep apnoea patients in relation to other chronic disease outcomes
24. Randomized controlled trial for Insomnia patients
25. Birmingham healthy Eating and Active lifestyle for CHildren Study (BEACHeS)
26. Examining the Impact of Sleep Duration and Architecture on Immune Function and Metabolic Hormones in Older Adults
27. Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (GBCS)
28. The effects of a chronic experimental sleep extension study on body weight, subjective appetite and hunger
29. Uberman: experimental sleep study to assess feasibility of a 4-hour wake with 30-minute nap opportunity in each 24-hour for 30 days/nights

Skills

Throughout my research career, I have acquired a varied set of skills, including:

Training Courses

Thesis

My thesis, submitted in 2011, was titled "Sleep and its association with metabolic function across the lifespan".

Abstract

Obesity and accompanied metabolic dysfunction are global public health problems. A better understanding of factors contributing to obesity and metabolic disease development is needed, particularly lifestyle behaviours including sleep. Sleep duration has been suggested to be a contributor to obesity and metabolic dysfunction development. This thesis examines the relationships between sleep, obesity, and metabolic function in different age groups and ethnicities. The thesis also presents a model for experimental sleep manipulation that can be used to understand the underlying mechanisms for the associations among sleep duration, obesity, and metabolic dysfunction. The studies and findings were as follows:

1. Cross-sectional data from young South Asian children in Birmingham showed that ‘inadequate’ sleep duration, unlike findings from different population studies, was not associated with overweight/obesity.
2. Cross-sectional data from a population of adolescents in the Midlands showed that short sleep duration was associated with increased odds of overweight/obesity.
3. Cross-sectional data from older Chinese from Guangzhou, China, showed that total long sleep duration was associated with increased odds of the metabolic syndrome.
4. Data from the experimental sleep model revealed that reducing sleep over a prolonged period is more achievable than sleep extension.

Grants

Zayed University Short Term Grant 5,000 AED (awarded)

Zayed University Teaching Innovation Research Fund 25,000 AED (awarded) - Mindfulness-based stress reduction for exam and presentation anxiety

Zayed University Research Incentive Fund 300,000 AED (awarded)

Zayed University Research Incentive Fund 150,000 AED (awarded)

Zayed University Start up funding 15,000 AED (awarded)

Zayed University Equipment funding 124,500 AED (awarded)

Al Jalila Foundation 279,000 AED (awarded)

Zayed University Provost Research Fellowship 25,000 AED (awarded)

Aim Higher £10,500 for the Midlands Adolescent Schools Sleep Education Study (MASSES)

Action Medical Research £138,000 for the Midlands Adolescent Schools Sleep Education Study (MASSES)

Student Supervision

Supervised 50 Undergraduate Psychology students to completion with independent research projects.

I currently serve as an academic advisor to more than 30 undergraduate Psychology students.

I have supported final year Masters in Public Health (MPH) students with projects for theses to completion.

I have supervised a number of undergraduate and postgraduate students to completion. I have also supported, guided and supervised summer scholarship students from the Nuffield and the Wellcome Trust.

I have previously supported 5 senior medical students at Weill Cornell Medicine, and 2 internationals students with research training and skills.