Apple Launched Three Studies in the New Research App

Apple announced that customers in the US can enroll in three new health studies. Conducted in partnership with academic and research institutions, these multi-year longitudinal studies are available in the new Research app, which can be downloaded today from the App Store. Now participants can contribute to potentially groundbreaking medical discoveries with iPhone and Apple Watch, and help create the next generation of innovative health products.

“Today marks an important moment as we embark on research initiatives that may offer incredible learnings in areas long sought after by the medical community,“ said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. “Participants on the Research app have the opportunity to make a tremendous impact that could lead to new discoveries and help millions lead healthier lives.“

Now it’s easier than ever to contribute to medical research through a streamlined enrollment process and engaging tasks in a straightforward and secure app. After enrolling in a study, participants using Apple Watch and iPhone can contribute useful data around movement, heart rate and noise levels captured during everyday activities, from taking a walk to attending a concert.

The Apple Women’s Health Study is the first long-term study of this scale and scope. It aims to advance the understanding of menstrual cycles and their relationship to various health conditions, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), infertility, osteoporosis and menopausal transition. The study seeks to analyze the impact of certain behaviors and habits on a wide breadth of reproductive health topics.

The Apple Heart and Movement Study is a broad study of factors that affect heart health and potentially cause deterioration in mobility or overall well-being. Apple is taking on this study to understand how certain mobility signals and details about heart rate and rhythm could serve as potential early warning signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), heart disease or declining mobility, to build new interventions that could help consumers lead longer, healthier and more active lives.

The Apple Hearing Study will collect headphone usage and environmental sound exposure data through iPhone and the Noise app on Apple Watch, in order to explore how both can impact hearing over time. Alongside the University of Michigan, the study will also determine how long-term sound exposure can impact stress levels and cardiovascular health.

The company stated that privacy is built into all products and services from the beginning. The Research app was created to only share data with the chosen studies when the user approves. It also includes a clear enrollment flow with detailed consent that explains how data will be used and allows a user to control the type of data shared with each study, Apple said.