CEO of physIQ Gary Conkright discusses the success of its collaborative study alongside Purdue University and the future of wearables.
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If successful, this study could enable wearable devices to slow or stop the infection rates of COVID-19. What would this mean for the wearable devices/biometrics industries?
Wearable biosensors provide rich 24/7 physiological data, but AI like physIQ’s is needed to turn all of that data into real insight. The objective is to identify the earliest signs of decompensation that results from a COVID infection, thus the funding by the National Institutes of Health to support our development of the CDI, or COVID Decompensation Index. Early detection using the data available from the Samsung Galaxy Watch could translate into early clinical intervention, reduced hospital admissions, less intubations and less deaths for this pandemic, and in the future. Enabling proactive medicine, replacing the reactive medicine approach that is currently in place, is the promise of digital medicine.
Which variables could inhibit the success of the study?
We have conducted many studies like this using the Samsung Galaxy watch and are very confident that our collaboration with Purdue will also be successful. Purdue is already at the 30 per cent mark for their enrollment and so far, the data collection and response from those who participated in the study is excellent.
What would make such a wearable device more appealing than perhaps downloading a track and trace app, for example?
These are two very different use cases. The work we are doing with Purdue University is around enabling early detection, which most physicians and researchers believe is the key to better clinical outcomes. Track and trace seeks to minimize the spread of infection to others once a person becomes infected. However, there may be benefit to earlier detection for an infected patient, to get them into isolation sooner, thus reducing the possibility of transmission.
How does an industry player go about gaining corroboration from a clinician or other healthcare professional?
The demands for clinical research have always been high for any disease, but particularly so for COVID-19. When a researcher looks to partner with a firm like physIQ, they look for expertise in the practice of clinical studies and a commitment to meeting or exceeding the demands of various regulatory bodies. PhysIQ has a proven track record and evidence, such as our 5 FDA clearances, that provides the confidence that healthcare professionals need.
Finally, what would you say to those who remain sceptical about personal data collection of this kind?
It is the new frontier of digital health. More and more wearable devices are becoming available, and people want to take their health into their own hands. Especially in this current COVID-19 world, not everyone wants to go to the doctor or hospital anymore and risk exposure to the virus. By combining this personal data collection and personalized data analysis that is only available from leveraging the power of AI, with a world class university, we can work together to beat this virus and get students, faculty and staff back to campus safely.