FutureNeuro, the Research Ireland Centre for Translational Brain Science, has launched a new research collaboration with Ozlo, the company behind Ozlo Sleepbuds, wearable in-ear sleep technology designed to support more stable, uninterrupted sleep. The partnership will investigate whether this approach can help address sleep disruption in people living with epilepsy.

Epilepsy affects approximately 50 million people worldwide, including around 45,000 people in Ireland. While anti-seizure medications are effective for many, up to 30–40% of people continue to experience seizures. Alongside seizure control challenges, sleep disturbance and fatigue are common and can significantly impact quality of life.

Seizures often follow circadian rhythms – the body’s 24-hour internal clock, which also governs the sleep–wake cycle – and frequently occur during sleep. This creates a two-way relationship: disrupted sleep can increase seizure susceptibility, while seizures, medication effects, and nocturnal symptoms further destabilise sleep. Despite increasing evidence of this link, sleep and circadian assessments are not routinely integrated in epilepsy care, highlighting a significant unmet clinical need for improved understanding and the development of accessible, non-pharmacological interventions.

The collaboration will focus on the EPI-SLEEP study (Effect of Personalised In-ear Sleep Technology on Sleep Disturbances in Epilepsy), led by Dr Cristina Reschke in collaboration with Dr Rob Argent, based in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, and investigators within FutureNeuro.

Working with Epilepsy Ireland, the study will recruit 60 adults with focal epilepsy and sleep disturbances, including individuals with both drug-responsive and drug-resistant forms of the condition. Participants will undergo home-based multi-modal monitoring to assess sleep and circadian patterns, followed by four weeks of at-home use with Ozlo Sleepbuds, a sleep technology wearable designed specifically for all-night comfort and overnight use. The Sleepbuds combine engineered audio and adaptive noise masking to help reduce environmental disruptions and support more consistent sleep.

Using a combination of biological tests, including saliva samples to track hormonal changes and a watch-like device monitoring sleep-awake cycles, alongside validated participant diaries and questionnaires, the study will assess changes in sleep quality, circadian rhythm stability, mood, and overall quality of life. It will also examine whether any improvements are sustained beyond the observation period.

Dr Cristina Reschke, the study’s co-lead at FutureNeuro and RCSI, said: “Many people living with epilepsy struggle not only with seizures, but with poor sleep and fatigue that affect every aspect of daily life. We know that sleep and seizure activity are closely linked, yet sleep is rarely addressed in a structured way in clinical care. Through this study, we want to better understand that relationship and explore practical, accessible ways to improve sleep, and ultimately quality of life, beyond medication alone.”

By combining FutureNeuro’s expertise in sleep and circadian neuroscience with Ozlo’s wearable technology, the study aims to generate robust evidence for a low-risk, non-pharmacological approach to improving sleep in epilepsy, without adding to medication burden.

“We’re excited to partner with FutureNeuro on research exploring how improving sleep may support people living with epilepsy,” said N.B. Patil, founder of Ozlo. “Ozlo was founded with a mission to help people achieve deep, restorative rest, and this collaboration reflects our commitment to advancing the science of sleep and its impact on overall well-being.”

This collaboration forms part of FutureNeuro’s broader digital health strategy, which focuses on translating neuroscience research into practical, evidence-based solutions for people living with neurological conditions. The EPI-SLEEP study has the potential to inform new approaches not only in epilepsy, but in other neurological conditions where circadian disruption plays a role in disease.