Miller School Experts Present Eye-Opening Research at SLEEP 2025
Article Summary
- The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine sleep medicine program is at the forefront of sleep research and helping patients who have trouble sleeping.
- Miller School sleep experts presented research at SLEEP 2025, the 39th annual SLEEP meeting and the 50th anniversary of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
- The Miller School sleep medicine team is integrating technology, including Inspire® therapy and the remedē® System, to optimize sleep care.
Physicians and researchers are waking up to the potential of the rapidly evolving field of sleep medicine.
Multidisciplinary sleep teams from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine introduced research breakthroughs and best clinical practices during this year’s Associated Professional Sleep Societies annual meeting (SLEEP 2025), the 39th annual SLEEP meeting and the 50th anniversary of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
“While sleep may sound overly simplistic, it’s incredibly complex,” said Alberto Ramos, M.D., M.S.P.H., professor of neurology and research director of the Sleep Disorders Program at the Miller School. “That’s why meetings like this are so important, to share ideas and keep up with the latest developments. Each layer of sleep, from neurophysiology to behavior, requires deep, specialized expertise. Advancing the field truly demands a team science approach.”
Multidisciplinary Approach to Sleep Disorders
Dr. Ramos served on the SLEEP 2025 event planning committee, creating a program that benefited a variety of medical disciplines through networking and learning. His team discussed the impact of sleep apnea on neuroimaging markers pertaining to brain health.
“Specifically, we’re looking at how daytime sleepiness is measured objectively using the Psychomotor Vigilance Test,” Dr. Ramos said. “We’re finding that, even in individuals whose sleep apnea is well treated, some still experience significant sleepiness during the day. This may be a sign that the brain, particularly its white matter, isn’t functioning optimally, which could help explain ongoing cognitive challenges in some patients.”
Dr. Ramos credits the Miller School’s notable discoveries to its investment in sleep programs. A single sleep clinic has grown into a research group of diverse medical disciplines, including pediatrics, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, pulmonology and cardiovascular medicine.
“We’re on the brink of becoming one of the powerhouses in research and clinical work when it comes to sleep disorders,” Dr. Ramos said. “I hope that sleep will be integral to any health care paradigm, like proper nutrition and physical activity. The Miller School’s investment in sleep research has set us apart as we address this issue in our communities.”
Technology Advances Sleep Apnea Research
Patients are becoming more attuned to their sleep habits, noted Maria Suurna, M.D., professor of clinical otolaryngology in the Division of Sleep Medicine and director of sleep surgery at the Miller School. Wearable devices, such as phones and watches, can now track sleeping patterns and heart rhythms. Curious patients want answers about their own sleep needs.
Dr. Suurna is meeting this challenge by integrating technology into her sleep practice.
At SLEEP 2025, she was part of a postgraduate course on neurostimulation technology for treatment of obstructive and central sleep apnea. Dr. Suurna’s practice utilizes FDA-approved implantable neurostimulation devices, including:
• Inspire® therapy, a hypoglossal nerve simulator for patients who cannot tolerate CPAP machines
• The remedē® System, a device that stimulates the phrenic nerve to contract the diaphragm and initiate breathing
“We’re pioneering new technologies in managing sleep apnea through clinical trials or by playing a role in developing the technology,” Dr. Suurna said. “Our goal is to make sleep medicine more accessible and personal so patients can be diagnosed and treated much faster with therapies that best fit their unique needs.”
Patient-Focused Sleep Medicine
An effective sleep physician workforce is necessary to continue the field’s advancements. Alexandre Rocha Abreu, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the Miller School, was on the American Board of Directors and the Sleep Fellowship Directors Forum during SLEEP 2025.
“I’ve had the opportunity to mentor new physicians aiming to become sleep specialists,” Dr. Abreu said. “This included working with medical students, as well as residents from internal medicine, family medicine and pulmonary critical care who attended our sessions. This adds to my experience supporting program directors from across the country in improving their fellowship programs and adapting to ongoing changes in the field of sleep medicine.”
Dr. Abreu is working to address the shortage of sleep physicians. The Miller School has added 12 providers with sleep expertise to the UHealth — University of Miami Health System in the past 15 years, many seeing patients at UHealth satellite clinics.
“We’re no longer waiting for the patient to come to the main medical campus,” Dr. Abreu said. “We’re meeting them where they are at, providing convenient access to address their sleep needs. On top of that, we now have a complete sleep program, not just involving adult sleep medicine, but sleep surgery, pediatric sleep and physiatry.”
The Miller School’s Center for Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences made a standout impact on SLEEP 2025, as well. The team presented 30 scientific posters, showcasing the depth and breadth of research conducted at the Miller School.
Tags: Department of Otolaryngology, Dr. Alberto Ramos, Dr. Alexandre Abreu, Dr. Maria Suurna, obstructive sleep apnea, otolaryngology, sleep, sleep apnea, sleep medicine