Clinicians and funding agencies recognize that the effects of acute and/or chronic illness extend beyond the patient and family members/caregivers are profoundly affected. Caring for such patients by necessity involves caregivers. The session will focus on caregiving and the needs of patients and their caregivers. Innovative approaches and new tools are needed to understand and improve health outcomes of patients with sleep disorders, chronic lung conditions and those whose family members are critically ill. Additionally, this session will address the future of caregiver research from an NINR perspective. NINR’s targeted interests and future research focus will be addressed.