This infographic illustrates the key facts about Apple ResearchKit, open source software framework designed for medical and health research that helps doctors, scientists and other researchers gather data more frequently and more accurately from participants using mobile devices.
With Apple’s ResearchKit, doctors can design apps that allow users to quickly, easily participate in medical studies
The combination of widespread usage and the capacity to collect data makes smartphones an ideal tool for researchers to involve phone owners in taking a medical study. Image via Japanexperterna.se.
Everyry day, Medical News Today reports on a large number of studies. Many of these involve the recruitment of participants so researchers can obtain new and relevant data. The best of these studies will involve the participation of thousands of people, but getting hold of large numbers of willing volunteers can be difficult.
In March, Apple launched ResearchKit, an open source software framework for researchers and developers. What effect might this have on medical research?
Apple Has Plans for Your DNA: The iPhone could become a new tool in genetic studies. Illustration by Sarah Mazzetti
“Apple launched ResearchKit and got a fantastic response. The obvious next thing is to collect DNA,” says Gholson Lyon, a geneticist at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, who isn’t involved with the studies.
One issue facing Apple is whether consumers are even interested in their DNA. So far, most people still have no real use for genetic data, and common systems for interpreting it are lacking as well. “In 10 years it could be incredibly significant,” says Lyon. “But the question is, do they have a killer app to interact with their [DNA] quickly and easily.”
With ResearchKit for iOS, Apple makes it much easier to join medical studies
With Apple’s new ResearchKit, doctors can design apps that allow users to quickly and easily participate in medical studies. Image via Apple.
With iOS 8, Apple introduced HealthKit, a powerful tool that allows health and fitness apps on iPhone to work together. Over 900 apps have already been developed using HealthKit, transforming how we track, manage, and interact with our health.
The biggest challenge in medical research is that it takes so long to organize the studies but what if it could be done at the click of a button? With a user’s consent, ResearchKit can seamlessly tap into the pool of useful data generated by HealthKit — like daily step counts, calorie use, and heart rates — making it accessible to medical researchers. With ResearchKit, iPhone and iPad users will be able to search and sign up for specific medical studies on everything from Parkinson’s disease to diabetes, asthma to breast cancer.
Sources and more information
Apple makes it easier to join medical studies, mnn, Mar 18, 2015.
The Next Disruptor of Clinical Trials? Try Apple, mmm, MARCH 11, 2015.
ResearchKit An “Enormous Opportunity” For Science, Says Breast Cancer Charity, techcrunch, 2015/03/14.
ResearchKit Technical Overview, apple, March 2015.