Skip to Main Content

Brian B. Koo, MD

Associate Professor; Director, Sleep Medicine Laboratory at Connecticut Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Medicine; Director, Yale Center for Restless Legs Syndrome

Contact Information

Brian B. Koo, MD

Patient Care Locations

Appointments

Biography

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (BA, 1995) and Tufts University School of Medicine (MD, 2001), Dr. Koo joined the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine faculty in 2008 and was subsequently recruited to Yale University in 2013. Dr. Koo’s primary clinical and research interest lies at the intersection between neurology and sleep medicine. Dr. Koo is particularly interested in the restless legs syndrome (RLS) and REM sleep behavior disorder and conducts patient-oriented clinical research to determine the underlying pathophysiology of these disorders. Dr. Koo is an international expert in the diagnosis, treatment, and investigation of restless legs syndrome and and treats patients with RLS from across the tri-state area. Currently, Dr. Koo's work focuses on assessing the role of the pro-opiomelanocortin-derived neuropeptides in RLS, and the role of autoimmunity in REM sleep behavior disorder. Other areas of research interest for Dr. Koo include the association between obstructive sleep apnea and wake-up stroke and the effects of cluster headache on quality of life.

Dr. Koo is director of the sleep laboratory at the Connecticut Veterans Affairs Healthcare System and the director of the Yale Center for Restless Legs Syndrome, an RLS Foundation sponsored Quality Care Center. Dr. Koo sees patients with sleep disorders at both Yale and the West Haven VA and is dedicated to the care of patients with both neurologic and sleep disorders.

Education & Training

  • Fellowship
    Case Western Reserve University (2008)
  • Fellowship
    Cleveland Clinic (2006)
  • Residency
    Long Island Jewish Hospital (2005)
  • MD
    Tufts University School of Medicine (2001)
  • BA
    University of Pennsylvania, Biological Basis of Behavior (1995)

Honors & Recognition

AwardAwarding OrganizationDate
Sleep Research Network Junior Investigator Travel AwardSleep Research Network2012
American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Sleep-Related Movement Disorders Section Investigator AwardAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine2012
American Academy of Sleep Medicine Young Investigator ForumAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine2012

Professional Service

OrganizationRoleDate
Restless Legs Syndrome FoundationMedical advisory board RLS Foundation2015 - Present
American Academy of Sleep Medicine: Restless Legs Syndrome Quality Care Task ForceRestless Legs Syndrome Quality Care Task Force2013 - 2014
Sleep & BreathingJournal Editorial Board2013 - Present
Sleep-Related Movement Disorders Steering Committee Member, American Academy of Sleep MedicineSteering Committee2012 - 2015
Journal of Korean Sleep Research SocietyJournal Editorial Board2012 - Present

Departments & Organizations