Mission statement
Advancing the well-being of people and the planet through the science of light.
The Mount Sinai Light and Health Research Center
The Mount Sinai Light and Health Research Center (LHRC) brings together a highly skilled group of researchers, educators, and designers who are passionate about what light can do to improve the lives of people and sustain a healthy planet. The LHRC works with a broad array of partners from industry, government, academia, and other communities to conduct groundbreaking, interdisciplinary research that includes:
- Using light to improve the sleep, alertness, cognition, safety, and overall health and well-being of diverse populations including people with Alzheimer’s disease, hospital patients, adolescents, workers, and others
- Exploring how light can be used to improve safety on roadways and outdoor areas at night, while limiting negative impacts on the environment
- Improving the use of light as part of a flexible electric grid to reduce energy use, limit carbon emissions, and allow for a more adaptable energy infrastructure
- Applying light and other forms of optical energy to combat plant diseases and ensure a sustainable food supply for the world’s growing population
- Conducting precise scientific lighting measurements in the laboratory and in the field and translating these results in a meaningful way to a wide array of applications
- Hosting innovative online and in-person educational programs in diverse areas of lighting to translate LHRC research into practice for a wide variety of stakeholders
The LHRC is part of the Department of Population Health Science and Policy at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. We have facilities on the main campus of Mount Sinai in New York City as well as a state-of-the-art research center near Albany, New York, that includes a fully equipped photometry laboratory, human-subjects research capabilities, a design and application workshop, and space to host conferences, seminars, and other educational programs. In addition to laboratory research, the LHRC frequently conducts field research aimed at better understanding the application of light in a wide range of real-world settings.