Leading sleep, stress, and longevity scientist, Dr. Soomi Lee, joins Unleash Health’s Scientific Council
Unleash Health is proud to welcome Dr. Soomi Lee, a leading expert in sleep, stress, and longevity, to its Scientific Council. Dr. Lee is Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and the Center for Healthy Aging at Pennsylvania State University, where she directs the Sleep, Stress, and Health (STEALTH) Lab.
An award-winning researcher in midlife and later-life wellbeing, Dr. Lee has published over 110 peer-reviewed papers and leads several NIH-funded projects, including a major study supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Her current work investigates how sleep health profiles influence chronic pain, emotional wellbeing, and inflammation, focusing on how social lifestyle and stress response act as key mediators.
Dr. Lee’s pioneering research reveals how stress, sleep, and happiness form a self-reinforcing loop, one that can spiral negatively under pressure or become a powerful upward cycle when properly supported. Her work offers a scientific foundation for reshaping how individuals recover from stress, regulate their sleep, and unlock greater emotional resilience. As an Associate Editor for Sleep Health, the journal of the National Sleep Foundation, Dr. Lee also plays a key role in shaping the direction of translational sleep research worldwide.
At Unleash Health, Dr. Lee’s science will power a new generation of behaviorally-delivered, personalized wellness experiences. On joining the Unleash Health Scientific Council, Dr. Lee shared:
“I’ve spent my career exploring the interconnectedness of sleep, stress, and happiness, how small, daily habits can either erode or enhance our wellbeing. I’m thrilled to bring this science to life through Unleash Health’s platform. Together, we can create practical, evidence-based tools that support recovery, resilience, and flourishing for individuals across all life stages.”
Dr. Ramin Rafiei, Founder and CEO of Unleash Health, added:
“Soomi is a global authority on the science of stress and sleep, and how these forces shape everyday happiness and long-term health. Her work provides a critical blueprint for building emotionally intelligent, recovery-driven wellness programs, especially relevant for sectors like financial services and pension funds seeking to help peole thirve in life both personally and finanically, and to boost retirement outcomes. We’re honored to welcome her to our Scientific Council.”
Dr. Lee’s appointment marks a strategic step forward in Unleash Health’s mission to deliver impact at scale, linking daily habits to emotional, cognitive, and financial resilience at scale.