Health & Med Tech

LightSPAN

Environmental light exposure for ophthalmic development and health.

About the Project

Light exposure is vital for health, with research showing that getting the right light at the right time supports our well-being and overall functioning. LightSPAN is a multidisciplinary research project that takes a dual approach across the lifespan, targeting two key populations in Singapore: school-aged children and older adults. It investigates the efficacy of optimising light exposure to improve health outcomes, namely vision, sleep, and cognitive well-being. LightSPAN leverages digital health technology, behaviour change and activity prescription to achieve these goals.

At its core, LightSPAN introduces an innovative, non-invasive, low-threshold lifestyle-based behaviour-change programme, delivered through the LightUP mobile health smartphone application. The LightUP app provides personalised, timely light exposure recommendations, uses light sensors to track and visualise real-time exposure, and delivers feedback-driven prompts to encourage sustainable, light-friendly behaviours as part of everyday life.

Singapore is often referred to as the myopia capital of the world due to the condition’s high prevalence among school-aged children. For those children, LightSPAN seeks to prevent or delay the onset of myopia and its major public health impact. The programme actively involves parents in supporting their children’s daily light habits, helping ensure they receive adequate healthy daylight exposure as part of their routine to promote healthier eye development and improve cognitive functioning.

For older adults, the project aims to promote healthy ageing by supporting better regulation of the biological clock, improved sleep, mood, cognitive and physical function, and overall well-being through optimised light exposure practices. This is especially important as Singapore faces a rapidly ageing population. LightSPAN will empower older adults to take charge of their own health by encouraging proactive, sustainable behaviour change through accessible digital tools and light-aware routines.

The team of TUMCREATE and NUS is collaborating with key government agencies and aims to establish evidence-based guidelines and recommendations to support light-optimised lifestyles contributing to healthier, more resilient communities across Singapore.

View Research Team

Research Team

Technical University of Munich (TUM)

  • Prof. Dr. Manuel Spitschan — Lead Principal Investigator

National University of Singapore (NUS)

  • Asst. Prof. Raymond Najjar — Co-Lead Principal Investigator

Researchers at TUMCREATE

LightUP Privacy Policy

  1. Introduction

TUM CREATE Ltd. respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This LightUP Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and safeguard your information when you use the LightUP application. This privacy policy adheres to the standards set by the Personal Data Protection Act 2012.

  1. Data Collection 

We may collect the following types of data when you use LightUP: 

  • Research data: Research data, such as questionnaires or survey responses 
  • Usage data: Information about how you interact with the app, such as navigation patterns and features accessed 
  • Device information: IP address, device type, operating system, and app version 

All data collection is approved by relevant ethics committees. We take reasonable steps to ensure the data collected is accurate and complete, especially for research analysis. If you believe any information is incorrect, you may request correction by contacting us at our listed email.

  1. Purpose of Data Collection 

We collect and use your data to: 

  • Conduct statistical analysis for research purposes 
  • Fulfill operational needs of TUM CREATE Ltd. 
  • Improve app functionality and user experience 
  • Publish anonymised research results in peer-reviewed publications complying with legal and regulatory requirements 
  1. Data Sharing 

Your data may be shared with: 

  • Research partners: Collaborators directly involved in research. 
  • Service providers: Third-party vendors assisting with app maintenance, hosting, or analytics. 
  • Legal authorities: When required by law or to protect our legal rights. 
  • Publications: Anonymised and aggregated data may be published as part of research findings. 
  1. Data Security 

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data. All data transmitted between your device and our servers is encrypted using HTTPS to ensure its security during transfer. Additionally, we use Google Firestore, which automatically encrypts all data before it is stored and decrypts it when accessed by an authorised user, requiring no additional setup. Access to your data is limited to authorised personnel only, and we regularly conduct security assessments to identify and address potential vulnerabilities. While we make every effort to protect your information, please note that no electronic transmission or storage method is completely secure. 

  1. Data Retention 

We retain your data for research purposes or to comply with legal obligations. Once no longer needed, your data will be securely deleted or anonymised. 

  1. Your Rights 

You have the right to: 

  • Withdraw your consent to participate in our research at any time by writing to Email
  • Request access to your data  
  • Request data deletion, subject to legal and research limitations  
  1. Third-Party Services 

The LightUP app may use third-party services for analytics or other functionalities. These services operate independently and have their own privacy policies. Your data may be transferred, stored, or processed in countries outside of Singapore to facilitate app functionality, analytics, or research collaboration.  

  1. Children’s Privacy 

This app is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 16 without parental consent. We do not knowingly collect data from children without such consent. 

  1. Updates to this Policy 

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We encourage you to review this page periodically for the latest information. 

  1. Contact Us 

For questions about this Privacy Policy or to exercise your rights, contact us at: 


Data Protection Officer 
Email: Email
Address: TUM CREATE Ltd., 1 Create Way, #10-02 CREATE Tower, Singapore 138602 

Project team 
Email: Email
Address: TUM CREATE Ltd., 1 Create Way, #10-02 CREATE Tower, Singapore 138602 

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