FamilySleeps Research Study - Maynooth University

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FamilySleeps Research Study - Maynooth University

Maynooth University Research Study exploring genetic link between autism and sleep

31/08/2026

This is your final chance to join FamilySleeps. Recruitment closes this evening. ⏳💙

We have loved getting to know every family who has taken part so far, and we do not want any family who could be a good fit to miss the chance to join us.

If you have two or more children aged 5 to 14, whether or not autism is part of your family's story, this is the moment to register. Everything happens at home: an activity watch, a bedroom sensor, a simple saliva sample and a few short questionnaires over the year.

Please register now or share this with a family who might be a good fit.

🔗 Register your interest: https://www.familygenomics.maynoothuniversity.ie/participate
📩 [email protected] | 📞 086 164 5998

Family Genomics Research Group | Maynooth University | familygenomics.maynoothuniversity.ie
Ethics Ref: BSRESC-2025-40860

28/08/2026

Thank you to every family who has registered. 💙

We wrote this message because we wanted to say it properly. Every family who has taken part, shared a post or simply asked a question has helped us get closer to understanding sleep, genetics and autism in real Irish homes.

Research like this only works because people are willing to open up their homes and their routines to us. That is not something we take lightly and a thank you post does not fully cover it, but we wanted to try anyway.

To every family who has been part of FamilySleeps so far, thank you. We could not do this without you.

Want to be part of it too? Do not wait. Register your family today.
🔗 https://www.familygenomics.maynoothuniversity.ie/participate
📩 [email protected] | 📞 086 164 5998

Ethics Ref: BSRESC-2025-40860

Maynooth University | ERC | Research Ireland | Maynooth Autism Friendly Town | Neurodiversity Ireland

26/08/2026

Sleep routines matter a lot specially at the start of a new school year. 🎒😴

As term time approaches, bedtimes shift earlier, mornings start sooner, and children's body clocks have to adjust fast. This is not just about tiredness. Sleep affects a child's mood, ability to concentrate, and even how well they retain what they learn.

Circadian rhythms, governed by the body's internal 24 hour clock, do not always adjust as easily as we would like and disrupted sleep can ripple through the whole household.

This is exactly what FamilySleeps is trying to understand better. By studying sleep patterns and genetics together, we hope to learn more about why some families find these transitions harder than others, and how we can support them.

If your family has two or more children aged 5 to 14, you could help us find answers.

🔗 Register your interest: https://www.familygenomics.maynoothuniversity.ie/participate
📩 [email protected] | 📞 086 164 5998

Ethics Ref: BSRESC-2025-40860

24/08/2026

Families who participate tell us their children are proud to contribute to real science.

"Kids are excited to wear the tech gear and happy to be part of a real scientific study," one of our moms told us, reflecting what families already enrolled shared with us.

That pride matters. For a lot of children being trusted with real equipment and a real role in research is something to be excited about.

We are in the final weeks of recruitment, and we would love for more families to have that experience.

If your family has at least two children aged 5 to 14, we would love to hear from you.

🔗 Register your interest: https://www.familygenomics.maynoothuniversity.ie/participate
📩 [email protected] | 📞 086 164 5998

Ethics Ref: BSRESC-2025-40860

22/08/2026

Recruitment closes end of August. Register your family today. ⏳

FamilySleeps is entering its final weeks of recruitment and we still need families across Ireland to help us understand the genetics behind sleep and autism.

If you have at least two children aged 5 to 14, whether or not autism is part of your family's story, you could be exactly who we are looking for.

Everything happens at home. No clinic visits, just an activity watch, a bedroom sensor, a simple saliva sample and a few short questionnaires over the year.

Do not wait. Register your family today.
🔗 https://www.familygenomics.maynoothuniversity.ie/participate
📩 [email protected] | 📞 086 164 5998

Family Genomics Research Group | Maynooth University | familygenomics.maynoothuniversity.ie
Ethics Ref: BSRESC-2025-40860

Maynooth University European Research Council Maynooth Autism Friendly Town

19/08/2026

We are entering the final stretch of recruitment. Can you help us reach our goal? ⏳💙

FamilySleeps has been running for a while now, and we are so grateful to every family who has already taken part. But we are not there yet, and time is running short.

We are still looking for families across Ireland with at least two children aged 5 to 14, including families where one child has an autism diagnosis, and families with no autism diagnosis for our comparison group.

Everything happens at home. No clinic visits, no travel, just an activity watch, a bedroom sensor, a simple saliva sample and a few short questionnaires over the year.

If you know a family who might be a good fit, please share this post. Every share brings us closer to answers that could genuinely help families like yours.

Ready to register your interest?
🔗 https://www.familygenomics.maynoothuniversity.ie/participate
📩 [email protected] | 📞 086 164 5998

Family Genomics Research Group | Maynooth University | familygenomics.maynoothuniversity.ie
Ethics Ref: BSRESC-2025-40860

Maynooth University European Research Council Maynooth Autism Friendly Town Neurodiversity Ireland

17/08/2026

More than 100 families across Ireland have reached out to register their interest in FamilySleeps so far, and we are genuinely moved by it. 💙

Not every family who contacts us fits the specific design of this study. Our criteria are quite particular, two or more children aged 5 to 14 in the same household. But hearing from so many families, in so many different circumstances, all wanting to help us understand more about children's development, has been one of the most rewarding parts of this project.

We still need more families who do fit that criteria, to help us reach our goal before recruitment closes at the end of August.

If your family has two or more children aged 5 to 14, whether or not autism is part of your story, we would love to hear from you.
🔗 Register your interest: https://www.familygenomics.maynoothuniversity.ie/participate
📩 [email protected] | 📞 086 164 5998

Family Genomics Research Group | Maynooth University |
Ethics Ref: BSRESC-2025-40860

Thank you to every family who has been part of this so far, in ways big and small.

Maynooth University European Research Council Maynooth Autism Friendly Town

10/08/2026

Spit happens. 🧬

We spotted this one on the wall in the office, from our friends at Oragene, who make the saliva kits our families use for FamilySleeps.

No needles, or blood draws, or clinic visits. Your family spits into a tube at home, in a few minutes, and posts it back to us in the prepaid envelope provided. That small sample tells us a lot about the genetic side of sleep and autism, the part we cannot see just by watching someone sleep.

Curious what your family's sample could help us learn?
🔗 Read more about the study: https://familysleeps.github.io/PIL/index.html

Ready to join?
🔗 Register your interest: https://www.familygenomics.maynoothuniversity.ie/participate

📩 [email protected] | 📞 086 164 5998
Ethics Ref: BSRESC-2025-40860

Maynooth University European Research Council Research Ireland Maynooth Autism Friendly Town

08/08/2026

FamilySleeps just got a spotlight feature from FutureNeuro, as an example of what engaged research looks like in practice. 🧬💙

From the very beginning, parents, PPI contributors and lived-experience researchers have helped shape this study, its design, the participant materials, even the language we use to talk about autism.

Read the full feature to see how families have shaped FamilySleeps every step of the way 👇

🔗 https://futureneurocentre.ie/why-can-sleep-be-a-challenge-for-children-with-autism-how-families-are-helping-researchers-find-answers/

FamilySleeps is currently recruiting families across Ireland, and there's still time to join!
🔗 Register your interest: https://www.familygenomics.maynoothuniversity.ie/participate
📩 [email protected] | 📞 086 164 5998

Family Genomics Research Group | Maynooth University | https://www.familygenomics.maynoothuniversity.ie/
Ethics Ref: BSRESC-2025-40860

Maynooth University Research Ireland European Research Council Maynooth Autism Friendly Town Neurodiversity Ireland

07/08/2026

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆?
Here's what your family receives when you join FamilySleeps, delivered straight to your door:

⌚An activity watch for each family member to wear on their wrist
🏠A sleep sensor to place in your child's bedroom
🧪A saliva kit for genetic analysis
📋Brief sleep questionnaires to complete at key points
📖A participant manual guiding you through everything step by step

No travel or clinical visits needed. Everything happens in your own home, with full support from our research team.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱? 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:
https://www.familygenomics.maynoothuniversity.ie/participate

📩[email protected] | 📞086 164 5998
Ethics Ref: BSRESC-2025-40860

Maynooth University European Research Council Research Ireland Maynooth Autism Friendly Town Neurodiversity Ireland

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Maynooth University
Maynooth

Website

https://www.familygenomics.maynoothuniversity.ie/participate

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