Sleep and circadian rhythms regulate all aspects of brain function. Co-chaired by Russell G. Foster (University of Oxford, UK) and Joseph S. Takahasi (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, USA), the focus of this Brain Conference will be on the molecular, cellular and neural networks that underlie the generation and regulation of sleep and circadian rhythms; by what means these biological processes interact and influence normal brain function and behaviour; and how these systems influence the development and state of neurological and psychiatric disorders.Topics for this Brain Conference will include: the neural mechanisms of sleep, arousal states and sleep homeostasis; the critical role of sleep for brain and body physiology including memory consolidation, immune responses and energy homeostasis; the molecular and cellular mechanisms of circadian rhythm generation; the regulation of sleep and circadian rhythms by light; the consequences of the 24/7 society on sleep and health; and the brain mechanisms underlying sleep and circadian rhythm disruption in neurodegenerative and  psychiatric illnesses.The Brain Conferences bring together outstanding researchers in key broadly defined areas of contemporary neuroscience to discuss current concepts and define challenges for future research.