  Sleep has a profound influence on the physiology of body systems and
biological processes. Molecular studies have shown circadian-regulated shifts
in protein expression patterns across human tissues, further emphasizing the
unique functional, behavioral and pharmacokinetic landscape of sleep. Thus,
many pathological processes are also expected to exhibit sleep-specific
manifestations. Nevertheless, sleep is seldom utilized for the study, detection
and treatment of non-sleep-specific pathologies. Modern advances in biosensor
technologies have enabled remote, non-invasive recording of a growing number of
physiologic parameters and biomarkers. Sleep is an ideal time frame for the
collection of long and clean physiological time series data which can then be
analyzed using data-driven algorithms such as deep learning. In this
perspective paper, we aim to highlight the potential of sleep as an auspicious
time for diagnosis, management and therapy of nonsleep-specific pathologies. We
introduce key clinical studies in selected medical fields, which leveraged
novel technologies and the advantageous period of sleep to diagnose, monitor
and treat pathologies. We then discuss possible opportunities to further
harness this new paradigm and modern technologies to explore human health and
disease during sleep and to advance the development of novel clinical
applications: From sleep medicine to medicine during sleep.
