The WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, WVU Medicine and Oura Health recently partnered on a national study designed to accelerate early detection of COVID-19 symptoms.
RNI has developed an Integrated Neuroscience digital health platform that utilizes wearable devices, the RNI Health App and cloud-based data analytics with artificial intelligence to try and identify individuals with viral infections before they are symptomatic — an innovation in monitoring capabilities and limiting the spread of COVID-19.
During the initial phases of the study, the research team deployed Oura wearable smart rings and the RNI Health smartphone app to physicians, nurses and other frontline healthcare workers in emergency rooms, intensive care units, COVID-19 testing sites and urgent care facilities in West Virginia.
The research team also partnered with hospitals across the country — including those in Philadelphia, Nashville and other critical emerging areas — to monitor more than 1,000 frontline healthcare personnel with exposure to COVID-19. And as the research enters its next phase, WVU faculty and staff are invited to participate in the study.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect communities across the Mountain State and around the world. Participation in this study provides the opportunity to directly support the University’s land-grant mission by helping the research team evaluate technology that potentially could improve or save lives.
Expectations for Participants
The study is open to faculty and staff who are based in Morgantown, currently working on campus (full time or hybrid) and at least 18 years old. Participants also must have a mobile device to participate in the study.
Participation is available on a first-come, first-served basis for the first 250 faculty and staff members who respond. All participants will be required to complete an Informed Consent Form.
The study period is 12 months from enrollment. The total daily time commitment for participants is 14 minutes (seven minutes each morning and evening).
Participants will be provided an Oura ring and the RNI Health App to track health, wellness and physiological changes (e.g., heart rate, sleep, temperature, respiration rate and movement). Researchers would provide this confidential information to study participants only for their own personal wellness management.
Participants will be expected to complete cognitive tests and questionnaires regarding their general well-being, stress, body temperature and symptoms presented on the RNI COVID-19 Monitoring smartphone app.
Participants will beta test new health forecasting technology, which can predict temperature and the onset of symptoms of viral infection days in advance.
Participants will not receive any payment to participate in the study. Participants also will not be reimbursed for any data used on their personal mobile devices during the study.
Participants may choose to withdraw from the study at any time.
Express Your Interest in Participating in the Study
Faculty and staff who meet eligibility requirements are encouraged to make their interest in participating in the study known by completing the form at go.wvu.edu/COVID-19-Monitoring-Study.
Faculty and staff also may contact the research team directly at RNIResearch@hsc.wvu.edu.
Visit the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute website for more information and to watch a video overview of the study. Contact the research team at RNIResearch@hsc.wvu.edu or 304-293-3394 with any questions.