Obstructive Sleep ApneaPhase 1NCT06960161
Exploring the Use of Phototherapy to Improve CPAP Compliance
A Phase 1 study testing Phototherapy in people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, run by University of Alberta at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a type of light therapy like lasers and LEDs. PBM was previously known by different terms like "low-level laser therapy" (LLLT) or "photobiostimulation." LLLT, despite its name, can also have effects beyond biomodulation, including thermal effects useful in medical imaging and therapy. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- What is being tested?
- Phototherapy
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 5 Jan 2024to 31 Dec 2030
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- using CPAP
- problems with CPAP tolerance/snoring
Who cannot join
- not using CPAP
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Enoch Ng contact
Canada1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Enjoy Dental
Edmonton, Alberta, T5X3N5
Enoch Ng, enoch@ualberta.ca
About this study
Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a type of light therapy like lasers and LEDs. PBM was previously known by different terms like "low-level laser therapy" (LLLT) or "photobiostimulation." LLLT, despite its name, can also have effects beyond biomodulation, including thermal effects useful in medical imaging and therapy.
PBM works by interacting with our biological systems, and its clinical benefits depend on factors like light wavelength, and energy output.
Read more
PBM has various clinical applications, such as wound healing, pain management, and treatment in sports injuries. It's also used as an adjunct to surgery, reducing risks and improving outcomes in areas like wound healing and inflammation. In oral medicine, PBM is applied to conditions like oral aphthous ulcers and is well-recognized for its positive effects in treatment of oral inflammation for oncology patients.
Recent studies indicate that PBM, when administered by trained professionals, can improve sleep quality and reduce snoring/SDB in adults. There's potential for its use in treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), showing effectiveness similar to dental sleep appliances but with fewer side effects. This effect seems to be from stabilization of the upper airway. Combining PBM with other therapies, like dental sleep appliances, has shown promise in enhancing effectiveness.
However, whether the effect of PBM in stabilizing the upper airway to reduce snoring/SDB can be used in combination with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to decrease CPAP pressures and improve patient compliance has not been explored.
Read the detailed description
Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a type of light therapy like lasers and LEDs. PBM was previously known by different terms like "low-level laser therapy" (LLLT) or "photobiostimulation." LLLT, despite its name, can also have effects beyond biomodulation, including thermal effects useful in medical imaging and therapy.
PBM works by interacting with our biological systems, and its clinical benefits depend on factors like light wavelength, and energy output.
PBM has various clinical applications, such as wound healing, pain management, and treatment in sports injuries. It's also used as an adjunct to surgery, reducing risks and improving outcomes in areas like wound healing and inflammation. In oral medicine, PBM is applied to conditions like oral aphthous ulcers and is well-recognized for its positive effects in treatment of oral inflammation for oncology patients.
Recent studies indicate that PBM, when administered by trained professionals, can improve sleep quality and reduce snoring/SDB in adults. There's potential for its use in treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), showing effectiveness similar to dental sleep appliances but with fewer side effects. This effect seems to be from stabilization of the upper airway. Combining PBM with other therapies, like dental sleep appliances, has shown promise in enhancing effectiveness.
However, whether the effect of PBM in stabilizing the upper airway to reduce snoring/SDB can be used in combination with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to decrease CPAP pressures and improve patient compliance has not been explored.
- Conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Being tested
- Phototherapy
- Medical subject headings
- Sleep Apnea, Obstructive
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
PhototherapyDevice
Phototherapy
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
CPAP pressure
CPAP pressure
Measured: 12 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 May 2025
- Study start5 Jan 2024
- Primary completion31 Dec 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2030 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Obstructive Sleep ApneaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of AlbertaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Alberta
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06960161
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HREBA.CTC-24-0059
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Apr 2025
- Last updated
- 8 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Exploring the Use of Phototherapy to Improve CPAP Compliance
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06960161
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HREBA.CTC-24-0059
- Conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of AlbertaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 5 Jan 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2030 (estimated)
- First posted
- 7 May 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a type of light therapy like lasers and LEDs. PBM was previously known by different terms like "low-level laser therapy" (LLLT) or "photobiostimulation." LLLT, despite its name, can also have effects beyond biomodulation, including thermal effects useful in medical imaging and therapy.
PBM works by interacting with our biological systems, and its clinical benefits depend on factors like light wavelength, and energy output.
PBM has various clinical applications, such as wound healing, pain management, and treatment in sports injuries. It's also used as an adjunct to surgery, reducing risks and improving outcomes in areas like wound healing and inflammation. In oral medicine, PBM is applied to conditions like oral aphthous ulcers and is well-recognized for its positive effects in treatment of oral inflammation for oncology patients.
Recent studies indicate that PBM, when administered by trained professionals, can improve sleep quality and reduce snoring/SDB in adults. There's potential for its use in treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), showing effectiveness similar to dental sleep appliances but with fewer side effects. This effect seems to be from stabilization of the upper airway. Combining PBM with other therapies, like dental sleep appliances, has shown promise in enhancing effectiveness.
However, whether the effect of PBM in stabilizing the upper airway to reduce snoring/SDB can be used in combination with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to decrease CPAP pressures and improve patient compliance has not been explored.
Detailed description
Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a type of light therapy like lasers and LEDs. PBM was previously known by different terms like "low-level laser therapy" (LLLT) or "photobiostimulation." LLLT, despite its name, can also have effects beyond biomodulation, including thermal effects useful in medical imaging and therapy.
PBM works by interacting with our biological systems, and its clinical benefits depend on factors like light wavelength, and energy output.
PBM has various clinical applications, such as wound healing, pain management, and treatment in sports injuries. It's also used as an adjunct to surgery, reducing risks and improving outcomes in areas like wound healing and inflammation. In oral medicine, PBM is applied to conditions like oral aphthous ulcers and is well-recognized for its positive effects in treatment of oral inflammation for oncology patients.
Recent studies indicate that PBM, when administered by trained professionals, can improve sleep quality and reduce snoring/SDB in adults. There's potential for its use in treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), showing effectiveness similar to dental sleep appliances but with fewer side effects. This effect seems to be from stabilization of the upper airway. Combining PBM with other therapies, like dental sleep appliances, has shown promise in enhancing effectiveness.
However, whether the effect of PBM in stabilizing the upper airway to reduce snoring/SDB can be used in combination with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to decrease CPAP pressures and improve patient compliance has not been explored.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- using CPAP
- problems with CPAP tolerance/snoring
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- not using CPAP
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| PhototherapyPhototherapy | Device | – |
Primary outcome
CPAP pressure
Time frame: 12 months
CPAP pressure
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
RecruitingObservational study
Development and Validation of a Multimodal Deep Learning Model Using Peripheral Oxygen Saturation and Ballistocardiography Signals for Predicting Apnea-Hypopnea Index in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
RecruitingPhase 3
A Study to Learn About the Monthly Dosing Study Medicine Called Berobenatide in Adults With Breathing Problems During Sleep and Overweight or Obesity Who Do Not Use a Breathing Machine (PAP) (VESPER-OSA 2)
Apnea, Sleep Disorders
Not yet recruitingPhase 2
Supplemental Oxygen for Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Adults With Chronic Opioid Use.
Sleep-disordered Breathing, Chronic Opioid Use
Recruiting
Nightly Wearable Monitoring During Home-Based Submental Electrical Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
RecruitingPhase 1/2
DRonabinol Treatment of OSA
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Enoch Ng contact
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 1 study testing Phototherapy in people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, run by University of Alberta at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Enoch Ng (enoch@ualberta.ca), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
CPAP pressure (time frame: 12 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 May 2026.