Apple's Research App Launches With Heart, Women's Health, and Hearing Studies in United States

Apple today announced it has released its Research app with three studies related to heart and movement, women's health, and hearing. The app is designed to make it easier for iPhone users to contribute to medical research.

apple research app trio
iPhone users in the United States can download the free Research app from the App Store and enroll in the multi-year studies starting today. After enrolling in a study, participants using an iPhone or Apple Watch can contribute movement, heart rate, and noise level data captured during everyday activities.

Apple first previewed its Research app and the first three studies back in September:

- Apple Women's Health Study: In partnership with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the NIH’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Apple has created the first long-term study of this scale focused on menstrual cycles and gynecological conditions. This study will inform screening and risk assessment of conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), infertility, osteoporosis, pregnancy and menopausal transition.

- Apple Heart and Movement Study: Apple is partnering with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the American Heart Association on a comprehensive study of how heart rate and mobility signals — like walking pace and flights of stairs climbed — relate to hospitalizations, falls, heart health and quality of life in order to promote healthy movement and improved cardiovascular health.

- Apple Hearing Study: Alongside the University of Michigan, Apple is examining factors that impact hearing health. The Apple Hearing Health Study is the first of its kind to collect data over time in order to understand how everyday sound exposure can impact hearing. The study data will also be shared with the World Health Organization (WHO) as a contribution toward its Make Listening Safe initiative.

Apple COO Jeff Williams:

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. 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.

Apple emphasizes that the Research app was designed to only share data with the chosen studies when the user approves. An enrollment screen explains how data will be used and allows a user to control the type of data shared with each study. Apple says the data collected will never be sold to third parties.

Top Rated Comments

ersan191 Avatar
46 months ago
I will ALWAYS sign up for stuff like this because of how drastically it can improve Apple products and help humanity.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
incoherent_1 Avatar
46 months ago
User control. Opt-in. Research-oriented.

This is health data done right. Take note, Google.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iGeneo Avatar
46 months ago

I'm upgrading most of my hardware over the coming year... so after shelling out $1349 for an iPhone, ~$700 for an iPad, $199 for the AppleTV, $249 for AirPods Pro, and $249+ each for HomePod speakers... seems to me I shouldn't have to pay a dime for additional services and content. They should be throwing them in, forever. Yet the boring TV "entertainment" and mindless propaganda posing as "news", may not even be worth $0 if it came to that. Sorry, Apple... hard pass.
Thank you for your valuable feedback on the free Apple research app.. :rolleyes:
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BootsWalking Avatar
46 months ago
Great idea and application of technology - I only fear self-selection bias will skew the results to represent mostly fit and health-minded individuals rather than the general population.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
46 months ago
signed up for the heart and movement study
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DrwMDvs Avatar
46 months ago
I understand concerns with App Store bias, but I typed in Apple Research into the app search bar and it was listed as the 20th app.... That's ridiculous. Basically every app before it didn't even have the word research in the app name.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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