Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Stanford University today jointly announced a research project with Stanford Medicine to initiate an innovative health solution based on Samsung’s obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) feature^[i] which has received De Novo — the first of its kind authorization — by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In recognition of World Health Day, this project underscores the importance of sleep in overall health by taking further steps in proactive care, beginning with a pioneering study.

Led by professor Robson Capasso as principal investigator and professor Clete Kushida as co-principal investigator, the joint study is designed to explore potential ways to further enhance Samsung’s Sleep Apnea feature to better support sleep health through timely interventions. Looking ahead, efforts will focus on going beyond detection by leveraging AI technology for daily monitoring to sleep apnea management, empowering users with the best possible sleep tools to improve their health.

Samsung’s Sleep Apnea feature on the Galaxy Watch^[ii]., which detects signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, previously received authorization by the US FDA following approval by Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). With its latest approval by Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), the feature will become available to users in Brazil in late April, increasing availability to 29 markets globally. The Sleep Apnea feature will continue to be expanded to more countries around the world, allowing more people to proactively spot symptoms earlier, which help prevent further long-term OSA health-related complications.

“The ethical, equitable and evidence-based use of technology, after its validation through research is crucial in developing new approaches to detection and management of sleep apnea and other serious sleep-related health conditions,” said Robson Capasso, MD, FAASM, Chief of Sleep Surgery, Professor of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, former Associate Dean of Research, Stanford University School of Medicine. “We are excited about this groundbreaking collaboration and proud to be initiating a study utilizing smartwatches, a friendly and commonly accepted wearable”

“This collaboration with Stanford Medicine will combine our deep technological expertise with Stanford’s leading research capabilities to unlock new innovation in preventive care,” said Dr. Hon Pak, Senior Vice President and Head of the Digital Health Team, Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics. “Together, we aim to move beyond screening to also provide more meaningful daily support that helps people better understand and manage their sleep health.”

^[i] The Sleep Apnea feature is an over-the-counter (OTC), software-only, mobile medical application operating on a compatible Samsung Galaxy Watch and Phone. This feature is intended to detect signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in the form of significant breathing disruptions in adult users 22 years and older, over a two-night monitoring period. It is intended for on demand use. This feature is not intended for users who have previously been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Users should not use this feature to replace traditional methods of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified clinician. The data provided by this device is also not intended to assist clinicians in diagnosing sleep disorders.

^[ii] Availability may vary by market, carrier, model, or a paired smartphone. Available on Galaxy Watch4 series and later models. The watch requires the Wear OS 5.0 version or later and must be paired with a Samsung Galaxy smartphone with Android 12.0 or later.

Gen Z Lab is made up of 73 employees from the 10 regions, who are all in their 20s. They are willing ‘Samsung fans’ who love their company and its products and are full of passion to create content on social media.

The 73 members plan to collect ideas within the group to find a more familiar name to Gen-Zers to replace the name Gen Z Lab. Playing a proactive role, they will plan and create marketing activities.

Gen Z Lab members share their feelings and expectations about their future activities

All members of Gen Z Lab have completed a training course, which was held online over the month of October. This workshop provided them with the information they must know for their future activities. Starting with understanding the brand insights of Samsung Electronics, the course includes various lectures from Kantar, a global market research institute, Facebook, and Stanford University. They also have the opportunity to learn about content creation and visual storytelling from successful YouTubers.

After completing the one-month training, these Gen Zers will listen to what their peer group wants by exploring various marketing activities. It will lead them to create and implement new marketing ideas for better products and services. The members are also expected to produce content focused on specific interests and the lifestyle of Gen Z in each region, as well as organise popup events and collaborate and partner with Gen Z’s favourite brands and artists.

Along with the individual Gen Z Lab in each region, the Gen Z Lab under the umbrella of the Global Marketing Centre will be in charge of global projects. Its additional role is to share the latest trends with executives to help their understanding of Gen Z and provide insights that can support the business decision making process. To accelerate these activities, an advisory group will be organised and will collaborate with the consultative group in the business division and mentor groups.

 “Gen Z Lab is a newly created organisation to connect with Gen Z across the regions including South Africa. We expect Gen Z Lab members to become true storytellers who can represent Gen Z customers in their own disruptive and creative ways,” said Dudu Mokholo, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Africa. Gen Z Lab has taken the first step in sharing a common goal across the globe. We root for creative and exciting marketing activities from Gen Z Lab members.”