The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research

In Australia, allergic rhinitis (AR) or hay fever is often regarded as a minor condition – common, manageable and largely seasonal. Yet for around one in ten children, it is neither occasional nor insignificant. Instead, it is a persistent condition that shapes daily functioning in ways that are easy to overlook.

The symptoms themselves are familiar: nasal congestion, sneezing, itching. In isolation, they appear benign. However, their cumulative effect tells a different story. Children with AR consistently report impacts on school performance, concentration, and overall quality of life. For many, this extends beyond the classroom, affecting mood, energy and participation in everyday activities.

One of the most consistent – but least visible – pathways for this impact is sleep.

Nasal obstruction and airway irritation can interfere with breathing during the night, contributing to fragmented sleep, reduced sleep efficiency, and, in some cases, sleep-disordered breathing. These disruptions are not always obvious. A child may spend an adequate number of hours in bed, yet still experience sleep that is physiologically less restorative.

At the same time, AR is frequently sub-optimally managed. In Australia, most treatments are available over the counter and many of us self-select therapies without professional guidance. As a result, more than 85 percent of people use treatments that do not fully control their symptoms, and in paediatric populations, up to 90 percent continue to experience moderate to severe residual burden. For many children, this means that disrupted sleep is not occasional, but ongoing.

This is particularly important during adolescence, a period of significant brain development. Sleep plays a central role in memory consolidation, attention, processing speed, and executive functioning. Even modest reductions in sleep quality can influence these processes. Over time, this may affect how young people learn, respond, and perform in academic and everyday settings.

Despite this, the relationship between allergic rhinitis, sleep disruption and cognitive functioning has not been objectively examined in an Australian paediatric population. In particular, it remains unclear whether sleep is a key mechanism through which AR affects cognitive outcomes, or whether it alters the extent of that impact.

This leads to a simple but important question: How does hay fever disrupt sleep and what does that mean for the developing brain?

It’s a question we, at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, would like to find the answer to and we’re looking for just the right person to do it.

Starting in July 2026, our SPARCO (Sleep and Paediatric Allergic Rhinitis Cognitive Outcomes) Study scholarship will support you to complete a PhD in the School of Psychological Sciences at Macquarie University, examining how allergic rhinitis (AR) impacts sleep and cognitive functioning in adolescents (12–18 years), and why some individuals are more affected than others. You will work with clinical teams and neuropsychological researchers on a collaborative, translational project. Funded by Bayer, the program also offers opportunities for industry engagement and post-PhD career opportunities. And importantly, it offers the potential for us to better understand a highly prevalent condition – not just as a set of symptoms, but as a factor that may shape sleep, cognition, and development during a critical stage of life.

To find out more or apply, follow this link.

Find out more

• Apply for the SPARCO Study Scholarship
• Hay Fever
• Our Sleep and Circadian Research Group