Deep Sleep Technologies announces Prof. Ysbrand van der Werf as scientific advisor
We are proud to welcome Professor Ysbrand van der Werf as a Scientific Advisor to Deep Sleep Technologies. His reputation as a leader in neuroscience and sleep research makes him a powerful addition to our mission: helping people harness sleep as a key to better brain health, resilience, and quality of life.
Professor van der Werf currently serves as a Full Professor at Amsterdam UMC, where he focuses on neuroanatomy, with particular attention to compulsivity, impulsivity, and attention. His research in systems and network neuroscience has helped shape how we understand the architecture of the brain and the role of sleep in maintaining it. In addition to his academic work, he is the Secretary of the European Sleep Research Society, where he contributes to shaping sleep science policy and research across Europe.
What ties all these roles together is a deep commitment to uncovering how sleep impacts the brain and how that knowledge can be used to improve lives.
A career rooted in sleep research
Although Professor van der Werf began his academic journey studying memory, it quickly became clear to him that sleep was essential to understanding how memory truly works. This discovery led him to shift his focus, placing sleep at the center of his research. That choice became a defining theme throughout his career.
Some of his most cited publications have explored how sleep supports cognitive and emotional functioning, as well as how sleep disturbances may signal or contribute to disease.
Notable examples include:
• Slow-Wave Sleep and Memory Consolidation (2009), which revealed the importance of deep sleep in learning and memory
• The Role of REM Sleep in Emotional Regulation (2011), connecting REM sleep to emotional balance and stress response
• Sleep Disturbances in Neurodegenerative Diseases (2015), which pointed to sleep disruption as an early sign of conditions such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's
• The Amyloid Hypothesis and Sleep (2018), showing how poor sleep can contribute to the buildup of Alzheimer-related brain plaques
• Brain Connectivity and Sleep (2020), exploring how broken sleep weakens networks in the brain, affecting attention and decision making
• Sleep and Psychiatric Disorders: A Bidirectional Relationship (2022), highlighting how improving sleep may strengthen recovery in mental health treatment
Across all of this work, a clear pattern emerges: sleep is both a signal and a solution. It reveals what might be going wrong, and it offers a foundation for recovery.
A clear message on brain health and sleep
One of Professor van der Werf's most well-known statements comes from his appearance on the RINO podcast in 2020. Translated from Dutch, he explains:
"We won’t cure Alzheimer’s by getting people to sleep. We won’t solve Parkinson’s with an alarm clock. But we might improve the quality of life in these conditions by ensuring optimal sleep for those affected."
This perspective captures his grounded, realistic approach. While sleep may not be a cure on its own, it remains one of the most accessible and powerful tools for improving health, especially when used early and consistently.
Connecting research across borders
Professor van der Werf is not only a researcher but also a connector of global research communities. Through international initiatives like ENIGMA Parkinson’s Disease, he helps unite data and researchers from around the world. These projects are creating a more collaborative and comprehensive understanding of the brain.
He also serves on several other scientific advisory boards, including the Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation and the Normal Ageing Brain Bank Amsterdam. He is an associate editor of the journal Human Brain Mapping, helping to shape the direction of new discoveries in neuroscience.
Why he joined Deep Sleep Technologies
At Deep Sleep Technologies, our work is built on science. We believe in tools that are not only helpful but also grounded in deep scientific insight. Professor van der Werf shares that vision. His decision to join our advisory board reflects a shared goal: to connect what we know in neuroscience with what people need in their daily lives.
His involvement will help guide our product development, research strategy, and scientific communication. Most importantly, it strengthens our ability to turn insights about sleep into real-world impact.
Looking forward together
We are honored to have Professor Ysbrand van der Werf as part of the Deep Sleep Technologies team. His expertise, curiosity, and commitment to understanding the brain align perfectly with our mission. Together, we look forward to advancing tools that support better sleep, sharper minds, and healthier futures.