diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 090f7e4..b81113e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ installed and invoked through its [published package](https://www.npmjs.com/pack
 
 ```console
 $ npx gx-it-proxy --version
-$ npx gx-it-proxy --sessions test.sqlite --port 8001
+$ npx gx-it-proxy --sessions test.sqlite --port 8001  # use SQLite
+$ npx gx-it-proxy --sessions test.json --port 8001    # use a JSON file
+$ npx gx-it-proxy --sessions postgresql:///galaxy?host=/var/run/postgresql --port 8001  # use PostgreSQL
 ```
 
 ## Double Proxy
@@ -18,3 +20,34 @@ To double-proxy (e.g. from Galaxy to a remote proxy that proxies to the applicat
 host1$ ./lib/main.js --sessions test.sqlite --forwardIP host2 --forwardPort 8001
 host2$ ./lib/main.js --port 8001
 ```
+
+## Sessions
+
+The proxy loads sessions from the file or database passed with the `--sessions`
+option. SQLite and JSON files are watched and reloaded on every change.
+PostgreSQL databases are polled every five seconds by default. The polling
+interval can be configured via the `--pollingInterval` option (in ms).
+
+Faster updates for PostgreSQL databases are possible via
+[PostgreSQL asynchronous notifications](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/16/libpq-notify.html).
+To enable them, create a PostgreSQL trigger that sends a
+NOTIFY message to the channel `gxitproxy` every time the table `gxitproxy`
+changes. 
+
+```SQL
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION notify_gxitproxy()
+RETURNS trigger AS $$
+BEGIN
+  PERFORM pg_notify('gxitproxy', 'Table "gxitproxy" changed');
+  RETURN NEW;
+END;
+$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
+
+CREATE TRIGGER gxitproxy_notify
+AFTER INSERT OR UPDATE OR DELETE ON gxitproxy
+FOR EACH ROW EXECUTE FUNCTION notify_gxitproxy();
+```
+
+Although it is possible to disable polling using `--pollingInterval 0`, it is
+strongly discouraged, as the delivery of asynchronous notifications is not
+guaranteed.
diff --git a/lib/main.js b/lib/main.js
index 3474a37..9f93308 100755
--- a/lib/main.js
+++ b/lib/main.js
@@ -13,6 +13,13 @@ args
   .option("--ip <n>", "Public-facing IP of the proxy", "localhost")
   .option("--port <n>", "Public-facing port of the proxy", parseInt)
   .option("--sessions <file>", "Routes file to monitor")
+  .option(
+    "--pollingInterval <n>",
+    "Polling interval for PostgreSQL databases (in ms, defaults to 5000, " +
+    "use 0 to disable polling)",
+    parseInt,
+    5000
+  )
   .option("--proxyPathPrefix <path>", "Path-based proxy prefix")
   .option("--forwardIP <n>", "Forward all requests to IP")
   .option("--forwardPort <n>", "Forward all requests to port", parseInt)
@@ -28,7 +35,7 @@ const main = function (argv_) {
 
   let sessions = null;
   if (args.sessions) {
-    sessions = mapFor(args.sessions);
+    sessions = mapFor(args.sessions, args.pollingInterval);
   }
 
   const dynamicProxyOptions = {
diff --git a/lib/mapper.js b/lib/mapper.js
index 14e8365..22716d3 100644
--- a/lib/mapper.js
+++ b/lib/mapper.js
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 var fs = require("fs");
 var sqlite3 = require("sqlite3");
-var watch = require("node-watch");
+var postgresClient = require("pg-native");
+var watchFile = require("node-watch");
+
+var startsWith = function (subjectString, searchString) {
+  var reversedSubjectString = subjectString.split('').reverse().join('');
+  var reversedSearchString = searchString.split('').reverse().join('');
+  return endsWith(reversedSubjectString, reversedSearchString);
+}
 
 var endsWith = function (subjectString, searchString) {
   var position = subjectString.length;
@@ -89,17 +96,82 @@ var updateFromSqlite = function (path, map) {
   var db = new sqlite3.Database(path, loadSessions);
 };
 
-var mapFor = function (path) {
+var updateFromPostgres = function(path, map) {
+  var db = postgresClient();
+  var loadedSessions = {};
+  db.connectSync(path);
+
+  var queryResult = db.querySync(
+    "SELECT key, key_type, token, host, port, info FROM gxitproxy"
+  );
+  for (var row of queryResult) {
+    var info = row.info;
+    if (info) {
+      info = JSON.parse(info);
+    }
+    loadedSessions[row.key] = {
+      target: { host: row.host, port: parseInt(row.port) },
+      key_type: row.key_type,
+      token: row.token,
+      requires_path_in_url: info?.requires_path_in_url,
+      requires_path_in_header_named: info?.requires_path_in_header_named,
+    };
+  }
+
+  for (var oldSession in map) {
+    if (!(oldSession in loadedSessions)) {
+      delete map[oldSession];
+    }
+  }
+  for (var loadedSession in loadedSessions) {
+    map[loadedSession] = loadedSessions[loadedSession];
+  }
+  console.log("Updated map:", map)
+  db.end();
+};
+
+var watchPostgres = function(path, loadMap, pollingInterval) {
+  // poll the database every `pollingInterval` seconds
+  if (pollingInterval > 0) {
+    setInterval(loadMap, pollingInterval)
+  }
+
+  // watch changes using PostgresSQL asynchronous notifications
+  // (https://www.postgresql.org/docs/16/libpq-notify.html)
+  var db = postgresClient();
+  db.connect(path, function(err) {
+    if(err) throw err;
+
+    db.on("notification", function(msg) {loadMap(path, loadMap)});
+    db.query("LISTEN gxitproxy", function(err, res) {if(err) throw err});
+  });
+  // requires creating a notification function and a trigger for the gxitproxy
+  // table on the database (see README.md for more details)
+  // delivery of notifications is not guaranteed, therefore, combining polling
+  // with asynchronous notifications is strongly recommended
+}
+
+var mapFor = function (path, pollingInterval) {
   var map = {};
   var loadMap;
+  var watch;
   if (endsWith(path, ".sqlite")) {
     loadMap = function () {
       updateFromSqlite(path, map);
     };
+    watch = watchFile;
+  } else if (startsWith(path, "postgresql://")) {
+    loadMap = function () {
+      updateFromPostgres(path, map);
+    };
+    watch = function (path, loadMap) {
+      return watchPostgres(path, loadMap, pollingInterval);
+    };
   } else {
     loadMap = function () {
       updateFromJson(path, map);
     };
+    watch = watchFile;
   }
   console.log("Watching path " + path);
   loadMap();