Timeshifter App Secures 2026 Funding for NASA-Backed Jet Lag Solution

Circadian Science Targets Jet Lag

Timeshifter, a circadian technology firm, is advancing its approach to help travellers and shift workers overcome jet lag by adjusting to new time zones.

The company's co-founder and CEO, Mickey Beyer-Clausen, stated that conventional advice on jet lag often misses the core issue, which is not primarily sleep deprivation but a misalignment of the body's internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm. This internal clock, a cluster of neurons called the suprachiasmatic nucleus, dictates daily cycles of sleep and alertness.

The app's methodology focuses on precisely timed exposure to light and darkness, rather than solely on sleep, to synchronise an individual’s internal time with their destination.

NASA Origins and Personalised Protocols

The scientific protocols underpinning the Timeshifter app were originally developed for NASA astronauts, who require precise physiological adjustments for their missions. Steven Lockley, Timeshifter’s co-founder and chief scientist, previously collaborated with NASA during his tenure as an associate professor at Harvard Medical School.

Michael López-Alegría, a former NASA astronaut and an investor in the app's 2026 funding round, confirmed he used Dr Lockley's science in preparation for his own missions.

The app creates individualised plans by considering a user’s age, typical sleep patterns, caffeine and melatonin consumption, and chronotype, then integrates flight details to provide recommendations starting days before departure.

Accelerated Adjustment and User Compliance

While the human body naturally adjusts its circadian clock by approximately one hour per day, following Timeshifter’s science-driven guidance can accelerate this shift by three to four hours daily, according to Mr Lockley.

Martha Merrow, a chronobiologist and visiting professor of circadian medicine at the University of Oxford, who has no commercial ties to Timeshifter, affirmed that the app’s general approach aligns with circadian science principles.

However, she also observed that achieving excellent compliance with the app's recommendations can be challenging due to typical human behaviour, such as meal services or entertainment during flights, which can interfere with prescribed sleep or light avoidance periods.

Implications for Asian Travellers

For Asian travellers, who frequently undertake long-haul flights across multiple time zones for business or leisure, tools like Timeshifter could significantly reduce the impact of jet lag.

As major Asian hubs like Singapore Changi Airport and Hong Kong International Airport continue to expand their global connectivity, the demand for effective jet lag solutions is likely to grow.

The app's ability to accelerate circadian adjustment by several hours daily could mean quicker recovery upon arrival, potentially boosting productivity for business travellers and enhancing the overall holiday experience.

Operators in Asia's travel technology sector may observe the adoption rates of such personalised solutions as a benchmark for future innovations in traveller wellness.