Seluna, a Glasgow-based MedTech startup developing AI-powered diagnostics for paediatric sleep disorders, has raised nearly €752k and launched an NHS validation study to tackle the underdiagnosis of childhood sleep apnoea.
The funding was led by Gabriel Investment Syndicate, alongside Scottish Enterprise, University of Strathclyde, and new backer STAC Invest.
“Paediatric sleep diagnostics has been underserved for too long. It’s a complex challenge, which is why existing tools weren’t built for children – until now. This validation study will demonstrate clinical impact and make a clear statement: we’re here to set a new standard. We’re here to innovate, drive change, and compete internationally, with backing from investors who recognise the potential of the paediatric healthcare market,” said Dr Scott Black, Co-founder and CEO of Seluna.
Founded in 2022 by Dr Black and Dr Yola Jones, Seluna was created in response to growing concerns from paediatric clinicians about the diagnostic bottlenecks affecting children with sleep-disordered breathing.
Their solution: an AI tool that identifies and classifies digital biomarkers from sleep study data, delivering interpretable results that support – rather than replace – clinical judgement.
The company’s software aims to innovate how clinicians diagnose and manage a condition that affects an estimated 96 million children globally – of whom 80% are currently undiagnosed.
“What makes Seluna’s approach so compelling is its focus on explainable AI. As clinicians, we need to understand why the technology is making certain recommendations. Seluna’s focus on interpretability builds the trust we need to confidently use this technology in clinical practice. It will help take pressure off busy departments and allow us to stop firefighting wait lists,” said Dr Ruth Hamilton, Consultant Clinical Scientist at the Royal Hospital for Children and principal investigator for the trial.
The 500-patient study, hosted at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, will validate Seluna’s proprietary Software as a Medical Device (SaMD). The technology uses a pipeline of machine-learning algorithms to automatically analyse sleep study data, a process that traditionally relies on labour-intensive manual interpretation by clinical staff.
This marks the first machine learning SaMD designed specifically for paediatric sleep diagnostics, a field long neglected in favour of adult-centric tools.
“Seluna is developing a solution which could dramatically improve our ability to identify and prioritise the children who need help most urgently. It has the potential to transform how we approach paediatric sleep medicine.” noted Dr Haytham Kubba, Paediatric ENT Surgeon at the Royal Hospital for Children and chief investigator on the study.
Beyond diagnosis, Seluna hopes to close a major gap in clinical decision-making: identifying which children are most likely to benefit from treatment. Currently, the most common intervention is adenotonsillectomy – the removal of tonsils and adenoids – yet many children undergo surgery unnecessarily due to limited physiological insight.
“Seluna represents exactly the kind of investment opportunity STAC Invest is looking for – a world-class founding team tackling a significant global challenge with genuinely innovative technology,” said Angus Macfadyen, Head of Investment at STAC.
This is just the first stage in a multi-site validation plan, with other NHS centres expected to join by the end of the year. This expansion is designed to create a more representative UK-wide dataset and minimise bias in model training.
The company aims to achieve UK Class I classification by the end of 2026 and US FDA Class II approval by 2027.
Meanwhile, Alex Lusty of Gabriel Investment Syndicate commented: “Gabriel was delighted to lead this second round investment into Seluna, recognising the company’s exceptional progress in building the product, commercial partnerships and internal team capability. It’s been great to see the strong clinical engagement with the company’s ethical AI-based diagnostic pathway. We look forward to continuing to support Seluna as the company transitions to helping children in the UK and US.”
