Predicting benefit from non-CPAP sleep apnea treatments using sleep test patterns
Predicting response to non-PAP therapies in OSA using PSG-derived endotypes
This project uses patterns from overnight sleep tests to match people with obstructive sleep apnea to non-CPAP options like mouth devices, nerve stimulation, and drugs to help those who don't respond.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11163488 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I have obstructive sleep apnea and this work uses information from the standard overnight sleep study (PSG) to estimate underlying breathing traits and the site where my airway collapses. The team will test whether those PSG-derived 'endotypes' and collapse sites predict who improves with mandibular advancement devices (MADs) or hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS). For people who do not respond to MAD or HGNS, researchers will try adding drugs targeted to a specific abnormal endotype, for example treating high loop gain. The goal is to use existing sleep test data to guide personalized treatment choices and help people left untreated after failing current options.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults with obstructive sleep apnea who are considering or have tried non-CPAP treatments such as mandibular advancement devices or hypoglossal nerve stimulation.
Not a fit: People without obstructive sleep apnea, those only interested in CPAP, patients with primarily central sleep apnea, or those without an accessible PSG may not benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help match patients to the non-CPAP treatment most likely to work and provide targeted medicines for those who currently fail those therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked physiological endotypes to treatment response, but applying PSG-derived endotypes to predict MAD and HGNS outcomes and adding endotype-specific drugs is a relatively new and partly untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wellman, David Andrew — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Wellman, David Andrew
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.