Microsoft partnered with Adaptive Biotechnologies to launch an initiative to map and measure immune response to the COVID-19 virus in an effort to improve diagnostics and accelerate reliable testing.
Four things to know:
1. The partners are enrolling participants in a virtual clinical study called ImmuneRACE. The effort aims to collect data from 1,000 individuals in U.S. metropolitan areas most affected by COVID-19. LabCorp will manage the collection of blood samples and nose and throat swabs from participants through the Covance drug development business.
2. The partners will make the de-identified patient information available to public health officials, academia and industry to accelerate treatment for the virus.
3. Adaptive and Microsoft are developing an alternative diagnostic test for individuals with known exposure or symptoms as well as efforts to triage patients and deliver treatment based on risk. It also aims to further ongoing immunity surveillance testing of populations.
4. In the study, Adaptive and Microsoft will measure the presence of T cells in the immune system for early disease identification and to combat infection.