Fitbit, Stanford Medicine and The Scripps Research Institute are
conducting research aimed at using Fitbit data to help detect, track and contain infectious diseases like COVID-19.
The new research consortium is inviting other institutions to join and share
key learnings, according to Fitbit.
The Stanford Healthcare Innovation lab already had launched a COVID-19 wearables study intended to establish whether data from wearables, including Fitbit
devices, can be used to predict the onset of an infectious disease before the actual symptoms start.
"By bringing together these and other leaders in scientific research, we hope to rapidly
advance science and innovation in the fight against COVID-19 by promoting consumer participation in critical research efforts, supporting frontline healthcare workers with donated wearable devices,
and sharing learnings quickly and openly across research partners,” stated James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit.
Research studies are being run independently with information
aggregated, with Fitbit donating wearables to the research groups to support healthcare workers.