Microsoft and Seattle’s Adaptive Biotechnologies are seeking 1,000 people across the country for a “virtual clinical study” designed to better understand how the human immune system responds to COVID-19.
Their ultimate goal is to develop a third type of diagnostic test for COVID-19, beyond existing PCR tests (which detect the presence of the live virus) and serology tests (which detect antibodies indicating someone has recovered from the disease). This third type of test would look for a specific “signature” in the T cells involved in the immune system’s response to the disease.
The new study is designed to help identify that signature in the immune response.
“We’ve spent the past decade learning how the adaptive immune system naturally detects and treats all disease, and we are well-positioned to apply our immune medicine platform specifically to COVID-19,” said Chad Robins, CEO of Adaptive Biotechnologies, in a statement. “We’re hopeful that we can contribute important information that will become part of an immune scan to help reopen society.”
Microsoft and Adaptive originally announced their plan in March. They are now seeking participants who have had a confirmed case of COVID-19 (whether they currently have the disease or have recovered) or those who have been exposed to someone with a confirmed case.
The study is dubbed “ImmuneRACE,” for Immune Response Action to COVID-19 Events. It focuses on 20 major metro regions around the country, and requires participants to schedule a home visit by a mobile phlebotomist to collect blood samples and nose or throat swabs. Healthcare diagnostics company LabCorp will oversee the collection of blood samples and nose/throat swabs.
Expanded testing is widely considered a key to reopening businesses and loosening restrictions on group activities in a way that doesn’t fuel new outbreaks of the disease. The companies say the development of a third type of diagnostic test could complement or provide an alternative to existing tests, help health care providers triage patients based on their risk, and assist in ongoing surveillance testing to determine the risk of the disease spreading among the population.
“Immune response data may augment what we have been learning to date to help determine who is at greater risk of developing more severe symptoms and may help with future containment efforts,” said Peter Lee, Microsoft corporate vice president of AI and Research, in a statement. “Anyone who has been affected by COVID-19 holds key information that can help contain and manage the virus.”
Adaptive and Microsoft have a longstanding partnership that uses Microsoft’s machine learning and cloud capabilities to map the immune system’s response to a variety of diseases.
Under a separate partnership, pharmaceutical giant Amgen announced a plan last month to use Adaptive’s proprietary technology platform to develop therapies to treat COVID-19.
