Researchers have begun work in laboratories that may soon yield answers to some of the most important questions surrounding human performance: how sleep affects how we operate.

The Appleton Institute Sleep Research Centre was officially opened by Parliamentary Secretary for Higher Education Sharon Bird.

The Appleton Institute, funded by and part of Central Queensland University, will undertake high quality research on sleep, fatigue and human performance that will be applied to industry, sport and the workplace.

"This important research has potential to save lives in the workplace, improve sporting performance in athletes and answer other questions about how human performance is affected by sleep and fatigue," Ms Bird said.

"The 30-person research team based at the Institute will be led by renowned fatigue and human factors expert, Professor Drew Dawson.

"A key part of the new institute is the highly capable and skilled multi-disciplinary team which will support the research efforts.

"The team of researchers covers a range of scientific disciplines and will be able to achieve better results than they could achieve individually."