Circadian OS for Jet Lag

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Must not be taking: Melatonin, Prescription medications

Disqualifiers: Cataracts, Macular degeneration, Heart disease, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 1 hour

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new iPad-based light therapy, called Circadian OS, to determine its effectiveness in managing jet lag by influencing melatonin levels. Melatonin, a hormone that induces sleepiness, will be measured to assess how well the iPad light reduces it and enhances alertness. Participants will use either an iPad with the Circadian OS app or a dimmed iPad without the app to compare effects. Suitable participants are healthy adults over 30 who do not take melatonin supplements or have certain eye conditions. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative solutions for managing jet lag.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

Yes, you will need to stop taking any over-the-counter melatonin or prescription medications to participate in this trial.

What prior data suggests that the Circadian OS technology is safe for use in suppressing melatonin?

Research shows that Circadian OS technology aims to manage jet lag by using light to influence sleep patterns. Studies indicate that jet lag can affect sleep and mental health, so light-based technology like Circadian OS might be beneficial.

Although specific data on the safety of Circadian OS technology is not available, using light to adjust sleep is generally considered safe. The trial is in the "Not Applicable" phase, likely indicating an early stage, such as a pilot study. In this stage, treatments are usually tested for effectiveness rather than safety. However, light therapy is generally well-tolerated and lacks serious side effects, suggesting that the technology should be safe for most people. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Circadian OS Technology for jet lag because it offers a novel approach by using light exposure to reset the body's internal clock. Unlike traditional treatments like sleep aids or melatonin supplements, Circadian OS utilizes an iPad app to adjust screen brightness, providing circadian-effective light exposure that can help align the body’s natural rhythms with new time zones. This method is non-invasive and could potentially offer quicker, more targeted relief from jet lag symptoms.

What evidence suggests that the Circadian OS Technology is effective for jet lag?

Research shows that exposure to light can reset the body's internal clock, often disrupted by jet lag. Studies have found that melatonin, a hormone controlling sleep, plays a crucial role in adjusting sleep patterns. In this trial, participants will use the Circadian OS technology, which uses light from an iPad to influence this process by reducing melatonin levels. Previous research has shown that combining light therapy with other methods can improve sleep quality and regulate sleep cycles. This technology aims to help the body adjust more quickly to new time zones, reducing the impact of jet lag. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Mariana Figueiro, PhD

Principal Investigator

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals experiencing jet lag. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, so it's important to contact the study organizers for detailed information on who can participate.

Inclusion Criteria

I am over 30 and in good health.

Exclusion Criteria

I have a history of heart disease or high blood pressure.

I use over-the-counter melatonin or prescription medications.

I have vision problems due to cataracts, macular degeneration, or blindness.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants are exposed to the Circadian OS iPad-based light intervention to evaluate melatonin suppression and sleepiness

1 hour

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for melatonin levels and subjective sleepiness after light exposure

1 day

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Circadian OS Technology

Trial Overview The trial is testing a new iPad-based light intervention called Circadian OS, designed to influence sleep patterns by suppressing melatonin. Participants' responses will be measured both objectively (melatonin levels) and subjectively (sleepiness scale).

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Active Condition - iPad with Circadian OS App Active Control 1 Intervention

iPad with Circadian OS App ON - iPad screen brightness adjusted by Circadian OS software to provide circadian-effective light exposure.

Group II: Control Condition Placebo Group 1 Intervention

iPad with Circadian OS App OFF and iPad screen dimmed to lowest setting

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Lead Sponsor

Trials

933

Recruited

579,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11554432/

Unraveling the Impact of Travel on Circadian Rhythm and ... Melatonin helps resynchronize the circadian rhythms disrupted by jet lag, thereby promoting better sleep-wake cycles. The hormone's interactions ...

2. nature.com nature.com/articles/s44323-025-00047-z

Preventive circadian medicine: improving health with sleep ... PSG is a technique that assesses sleep status and detects sleep disorders by measuring various physiological signals throughout the night, such ...

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00387179

NCT00387179 | Effectiveness of Combining Light and Non ... This study will evaluate the combined effectiveness of light and non-light therapies at regulating sleep cycles and improving sleep quality. Detailed ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953625000188

Association between behavioral jet lag with subjective and ... Higher behavioral jet lags were significantly associated with increased risk of circadian disruption among young adults.

5. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40675-025-00325-z

Integrating Assessment of Circadian Rhythmicity to ... Researchers have improved existing circadian assessment methods to overcome logistical barriers and developed novel circadian assessment methods ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825007322

Social jet lag and mental health outcomes: A systematic ... These findings collectively suggest that social jet lag exerts a modest yet significant effect on mental health, thereby warranting targeted management ...

7. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/aje/advance-article/doi/10.1093/aje/kwaf120/8158079

A causal and replication analysis of claims that jet lag affects ... In this work, we provide a principled answer regarding the causal effect of jet lag or circadian misalignment, using the same treatment ...

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3630947/

Jet lag syndrome: circadian organization, pathophysiology ... Polysomnographic data show that not only does jet lag result in changes of sleep–wake timing, but also in different aspects of sleep ...

9. ouraring.com ouraring.com/blog/how-jet-lag-affects-sleep/?srsltid=AfmBOor-6wHLkjSti8lJUiDr966YMrsdkaoIPkwS1ZD7YsehA34k8qMg

New Study from NUS Analyzes Jet Lag and Sleep Patterns ... How does jet lag affect your sleep and recovery? A new study using Oura Ring examined sleep patterns to reveal the effects.

10. sleep.hms.harvard.edu sleep.hms.harvard.edu/education-training/public-education/sleep-and-health-education-program/sleep-health-education-81

Getting the Sleep You Need: Jet Lag and Shift Work Jet lag disrupts sleep by misaligning the internal clock. Shift work causes longer-term disruptions, with night shifts causing sleep during the day and being ...