Good Light - Good Life

Dr Münch has substantial expertise in sleep and chronobiology and the impact of light on humans. After her PhD thesis at the Centre for Chronobiology in Basel (Switzerland), she worked as post-doctoral Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School (Boston, USA) and at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (Switzerland). In 2015, she completed her Habilitation (privat docent) at Charité University Medicine in Berlin (Germany), where she worked for five years. Most recently, Dr Münch spent over two years at Massey University in Wellington (New Zealand) as Associate Professor and portfolio Director of Circadian Health Research. She returned to Switzerland in January 2021.  Dr Münch has a strong publication record, received several awards and is a founding member of the Daylight Academy.

Relevance of daylight for humans (DLA)
Sunlight is a prerequisite for life on earth and crucial for health and wellbeing in humans. A variety of physiological and psychological functions are modulated by perception through light sensitive photoreceptors in the eye, and by sunlight perception via skin (e.g. for Vitamin D production). Exposure to short-wavelength electric light before bedtime can disrupt circadian clock functions and challenge sleep quality. Newer evidence suggests that such negative light effects are magnified by low intensity light exposure during the day, especially during the first half of the waking period. In recent years, some efforts have been made to better understand and to mitigate circadian disruption in shift-workers and patient groups by different approaches including (day-)light interventions. There is, however, no consensus across disciplines how (day-)light exposure needs to be integrated in such an endeavour - spanning from architectural design solutions for homes and schools to clinical practice in institutions. This presentation will summarize some of the key factors and basic concepts on the impact of (day-)light on humans. It will also highlight general relevance and possibilities of better integration of (day-)light exposure under daily life conditions.

Dr. Garbazzais a psychiatrist specialized in sleep and circadian medicine and research, working at the Centre for Chronobiology of the University of Basel, Switzerland. After medical studies in Italy and Germany, he obtained a doctorate from the Competence Center of Sleep Medicine of the Charité Medical University, Berlin. After moving to Switzerland, he entered a PhD program at the University of Basel, Centre for Chronobiology, under the supervision of Prof. Christian Cajochen. Since 2012, Dr Garbazza has specialized on the management of circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders and the chronotherapy of affective disorders, with a focus on the bright light treatment of perinatal depression. He is a board member of the Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms (SLTBR) and of the International Association of Circadian Health Clinics (IACHC).

Light as a Key Factor to Human Health | SLTBR
Light is known for its beneficial impact on human health since ancient times. However, only in the second half of the last century, thanks to the research advances in the field of chronobiology, the effects of light on many aspects of physiology, including circadian rhythms, sleep, and mood, have been explained, thus paving the way for the use of light as a treatment. From the first description by Rosenthal et al. in the 1980s, bright light therapy (BLT) has been established as a first-line therapeutic strategy for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and its efficacy has been later demonstrated also in non-seasonal unipolar and bipolar depression, as well as in other psychiatric disorders characterized by an alteration of the circadian system. More recent evidence also suggests that daily light administration may improve different clinical outcomes in neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, multiple sclerosis, or traumatic brain injury. In this talk the current knowledge on the clinical applications of light will be summarized, showing that light can be effectively integrated in the medical practice, being a valuable therapeutic tool that can be personalized according to patients’ needs, in order to improve physical and mental health.

Annette Steinbusch is Standards & Regulations manager at Signify, driving light quality topics and human centric lighting. She is also active in LightingEurope, the Global Lighting Association, the Good Light Group and board member of the International Commission on Illumination (CIE). Annette has over 25 years of experience in the areas of supply chain management, business improvement, sustainability and standards & regulations. She holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management Science from the Eindhoven University of Technology in The Netherlands.

Good Light for Healthy People with Daytime Activity | GLG
People need daylight to synchronize their circadian clock, or indoor lighting that mimics the positive aspects of daylight. We call this good light. Good Light is Attractive: Good Light indoors is high quality and comfortable for the eyes. Good Light is Dynamic: Good Light indoors is stimulating during the day with an intensity that is at least 5x higher and relaxing during the evening with an intensity that is at least 5x lower, than the current standard for vision. Good Light is Optimized: Good Light indoors has spectral characteristics that vary according to time of day, personal needs, and specific tasks. Good Light is Personal: Good Light indoors can be adapted by the user for personal needs based on suggestions by the system. The Good Light Group has launched a lighting guide for healthy people with daytime activity. This presentation explains what to keep in mind to design Good Light.