Google sister-company Verily is launching an antibody research study for coronavirus

Formerly called Google Life Sciences, Verily is a life sciences tech startup that develops tools and devices to collect, organize and activate health data. Today, Verily announced it is launching a research project with an initial focus on understanding how the human immune system responds to the coronavirus.

According to the information on its website, Verily is adapting its existing study, Project Baseline, an initiative to make it easy and engaging for people like you to contribute to the map of human health and participate in clinical research. Together with researchers, clinicians, engineers, designers, advocates, and volunteers, Verily is collaborating to build the next generation of healthcare tools and services. The research work is currently available to US residents who are 18 years or older.

The project aims to use the latest technology for longitudinal health care research, to support the pandemic. Its first initiative, Baseline Antibody Research, offers serology testing to those who have already received a nasal swab test from Verily’s testing program.

In the FAQ section of the site, Verily said:

The COVID-19 Research Project is open to everyone who wants to contribute directly to crucial research — regardless of whether they have personally experienced the illness. Beyond clinical study opportunities, research activities may also include scientific surveys on mental health, lifestyle, and more.

Such information from healthy individuals can help quantify the public health impact of the disease, and provide a basis for better understanding the changes caused by COVID-19. Members of the Project Baseline can access opportunities and choose to take part in whatever research interests them through an online member portal.

Founded in 2015, Verily was spun out of Google Life Sciences. The company has already rolled out testing sites across various sites in California for those who suspect they might have the virus.  Verily aspires to create a world in which technology and life sciences are not distinct, but partners with a united mission. Formerly Google Life Sciences, Verily’s mission is to bring together technology and life sciences to uncover new truths about health and disease.

Verily’s multidisciplinary teams have access to advanced research tools, large-scale computing power, and unique technical expertise. They work with partners from across the industry and many fields of research to develop new technology, launch studies, and start companies.