About our study
At WakeZ, we are pushing the boundaries of how sleep science can transform mental health care. Our research program builds upon our existing initiatives, exploring the powerful relationship between REM sleep patterns and emotional brain health—leveraging cutting-edge wearable technology and machine learning to bring these insights to life.
Our studies are designed to decode REM sleep as both a biomarker and a therapeutic target. We are investigating whether subtle interventions—like gentle, precisely timed haptic feedback during sleep—can improve mood, accelerate recovery from depression, boost daily performance, and even prevent relapse. Using the Apple Watch and a proprietary AI-powered app, we collect real-time physiological signals, passive behavioural data, and clinical questionnaire responses to create a dynamic, personalised sleep profile for each participant.
This comprehensive research effort is one of the most ambitious explorations of REM sleep modulation to date, and you can be a part of it. Check out more details below and come join us in the global fight against depression.
This study is addressed to individuals in the age range of 18-65 years. The study has received approval from the Ethics Committee of the ‘Iuliu Hațieganu’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Our Studies
Title: REM Sleep and its involvement in productivity, daily performance and depression relapse:
Lead Investigator: PhD Dr. Zaki Milhem
What is the purpose?
This study investigates whether REM sleep patterns, measured via the Apple Watch and refined through haptic interventions, can improve daily productivity in healthy individuals and predict relapse risk in patients with depression in remission.
Data we collect:
We gather polysomnography (PSG) data during lab nights, real-time REM sleep detection data from the Apple Watch, daily mood and productivity questionnaires (WPAI and UWES), and phone sensor data (activity, location, environment).
Structure:
The study has two arms. Arm 1 enrolls healthy volunteers receiving subtle vibration-based interventions during REM sleep to study effects on productivity and mood. Arm 2 enrolls patients with depression in remission to monitor REM sleep as a possible biomarker for relapse. All participants complete three lab-monitored nights and at least two weeks of at-home tracking .
Title: REM sleep disruption and its potential uses in depression management
Lead Investigator: PhD Dr. Zaki Milhem
What is the purpose?
This three-arm clinical trial investigates whether targeted REM sleep disruption via haptic feedback delivered by the Apple Watch can enhance treatment outcomes in depression. It aims to determine if REM sleep patterns can serve as biomarkers for treatment response, adjuvant therapy, and relapse prevention in different stages of depressive illness.
Data we collect:
We collect REM sleep data from the Apple Watch, self-reported affective states using validated questionnaires (HAM-D, MADRS, BDI, QIDS), and passive sensor data (GPS, physical activity, ambient conditions) across the study period.
Structure:
The study has three arms: Arm 1 enrolls patients newly starting antidepressant treatment to evaluate REM sleep disruption’s effect on accelerating treatment response. Arm 2 follows patients on stable antidepressant regimens to test REM disruption as an adjuvant strategy to boost remission rates. Arm 3 monitors patients recently off medication to assess whether REM sleep modulation can reduce the risk of depression relapse. Each participant is followed through daily Apple Watch data, weekly surveys, and structured clinical assessments. Participants in the test groups receive personalized haptic interventions during REM sleep as a potential modulator of disease management.
So, are you ready to #hackyoursleep?
WakeZ is still in beta, which means you’ll need to install it through TestFlight—Apple’s secure platform for testing early versions of apps. But we’re running cutting-edge clinical studies, and you can be a part of them. Whether you're curious about how REM sleep affects your mood, you want a personal sleep profile, or you want to help shape the future of non-invasive mental health support, this is your moment. Install the app, and we’ll guide you through the consent process if you qualify. Let’s unlock the science of sleep—together. Fill in the following form, and we’ll contact you for enrollment.