Adaptive Biotechnologies and Microsoft launch ImmuneRACE

Adaptive Biotechnologies and Microsoft launch ImmuneRACE
Study aims to improve Covid-19 testing methods and inform decision-making around the disease 

Elly Yates-Roberts |


Immunity medicine company Adaptive Biotechnologies has launched its new virtual ImmuneRACE study with Microsoft to improve Covid-19 testing methods and inform decision-making around the disease. 

The two companies are expanding on the partnership that they announced in January with the new project which is calling for 1,000 participants from US metropolitan areas affected by Covid-19. The data from these people will then be made freely available to public health officials, academia and industry to accelerate solutions to the pandemic.

Clinical laboratories company LabCorp will manage the collection of blood and nose/throat samples from participants’ homes, through its Covance drug development business. 

“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. “We’re hopeful that we can contribute important information that will become part of an immune scan to help reopen society. As many are sheltering in place wondering how they can help, we wanted to launch ImmuneRACE with Microsoft and give people an opportunity to participate.” 

With tests available to indicate the presence of a live virus and indicate exposure to and potential immunity against Covid-19 through blood analysis, Microsoft and Adaptive Biotechnologies hope to create a third test to provide additional diagnostic testing for individuals with known exposure or symptoms, inform treatments based on risk and surveil the population. 

According to a Microsoft story about the partnership, in this test the companies will measure the presence of specialised immunity cells in the blood of participants which identify the disease early and increase rapidly to fight the infection. 

“We are dedicated to being part of the solution against Covid-19,” said Peter Lee, corporate vice president of artificial intelligence and research at Microsoft. “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. Anyone who has been affected by Covid-19 holds key information that can help contain and manage the virus.”

Find out more about ImmuneRACE and how to take part

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