The European Union (EU)’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Health, demographic change, and wellbeing has selected an interdisciplinary, international sleep apnea research and development project led by scientists at Reykjavik University (pictured) for a 15-million Euro grant.

“Sleep Revolution” aims to revolutionize research, diagnosis, and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and related disorders. With almost 40 international collaborating partners from academia and industry, it will develop machine-learning techniques to better estimate the severity and treatment needs for OSA, to improve health outcomes and quality of life. With the commitment of the European Sleep Research Society and the Assembly of National Sleep Societies, with its over 8,000 members, the project further aims to create new standardized international guidelines for sleep medicine.

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The project involves building a database consisting of data from sleep measurements of 30,000 individuals, collected in Iceland and around Europe. Additional data will be collected utilizing smart watches, questionnaires, sleep-measuring devices, and neuropsychological tests. Furthermore, a digital platform will be developed for scientists, health professionals, and participants in OSA studies to share their data and research findings for research and diagnosis purposes.

Erna Sif Arnardottir is director of the Reykjavik University Sleep Institute, president of the Icelandic Sleep Research Society, and a board member of the European Sleep Research Society. Credit: Golli / Reykjavik University.

Erna Sif Arnardóttir, director of the Reykjavik University Sleep Institute, president of the Icelandic Sleep Research Society, and a board member of the European Sleep Research Society, who leads the project, says in a release, “It is a tremendous honor to get this opportunity to bring together this large group of Europe’s leading experts and innovators in sleep research into one large research and development project to move the field into the forefront of digital healthcare. By using interdisciplinary methods and new possibilities in information technology and artificial intelligence, we aim to revolutionize how knowledge of OSA and other sleep-related breathing disorders, such as habitual snoring, is gained and used. We will shift the focus in analysis and treatment to the daily lives of people and pave the way for more individualized and personal health care.”

Ari Kristinn Jonsson, president of Reykjavik University, says in a release that the grant is yet another confirmation of the quality of research conducted at the University: “We are extremely proud and look forward to continue building our sleep research with strong academic and industrial partners in the coming years.”

Collaboration partners:

  • Reykjavík University, Iceland, Departments of Engineering, Computer Science, Psychology, and Sport Science
  • Nox Medical, Iceland
  • Sidekickhealth Iceland/Sweden
  • Ita-Suomen Yliopisto, Finland
  • The University of Queensland, Australia
  • Akershus Universitetssykehus HF, Norway
  • Universitetet i Oslo, Norway
  • Tartu Ulikool, Finland
  • European Sleep Research Society (ESRS)
  • Norsk e-helse AS, Norway
  • Universiteit Gent, Belgium
  • Goeteborgs Universitet, Sweden
  • Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen, Belgium
  • Ethniko Kai Kapodistriako Panepistimio Athinon, Greece
  • CHARITE – Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Germany
  • University College Dublin, National University of Ireland, Ireland
  • Dimokritio Panepistimio Thrakis, Greece
  • Universite Grenoble Alpes, France
  • Panepistimio Kritis, Greece
  • EGE University, Turkey
  • Narodni Ustav Dusevniho Zdravi, Czech Republic
  • Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
  • Faculdade De Medicina Da Universidade DE Lisboa, Portugal
  • Universitaetsmedizin Der Johannes Gutenberg-Universitaet Mainz, Germany
  • Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Italy
  • Universita Degli Studi Di Palermo, Italy
  • Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri Societa’ Per Azioni Societa’ Benefit, Italy
  • Praxis Dr. Hein, Germany
  • Wissenschaftliches Institut Bethanien für Pneumologie e.V., Germany
  • Aristotelio Panepistimio Thessalonikis, Greece
  • Universitatea De Medicina Si Farmacie Victor Babes
  • Timisoara, Rumania
  • Turun Yliopisto, Finland
  • Varsinais-Suomen Sairaanhoitopiirin Kuntayhtyma, Finland
  • Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Paris, France
  • Instytut Gruzlicy I Chorob Pluc, Poland
  • Centro Hospitalar de Sao Joao Epe, Portugal
  • Empatica srl, Italy