Tech giant Apple has ventured into collaborations with several esteemed medical institutions to be a part of three medical studies. Apple Watch users will be able to participate in these studies. This participation will be facilitated through a new app, ‘Research’, which will be made available later this year as a free download.
The three studies will be long-term and focus on varied health concerns. These include:
- Apple Women’s Health Study: It will focus on the menstrual health of women and inform them about associated conditions such as pregnancy, PCOS, osteoporosis, and infertility. The study is partnered by NIH’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) as well as Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.
- Apple Hearing Study: Aimed at understanding the relation between sound exposure experienced every day, with hearing capabilities. While the company will partner with the University of Michigan for the purpose of this study, the data will also be shared with the WHO initiative, ‘Make Listening Safe’.
- Apple Heart and Movement Study: Collaborating with the American Heart Association and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, this study is aimed at understanding the association between heart rate and mobility signals, with falls, hospitalizations, and overall quality of health.
“Today’s announcement carries our commitment to health even further by engaging with participants on a larger scale than ever before,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer.
The app will be made available only in the US.
