COVID-19 Research Project

Project Baseline is an initiative to make it easy and engaging for people to contribute to the map of human health and participate in clinical research.

Project Baseline was founded by Verily, a subsidiary of Alphabet focused on life sciences and healthcare and is a sister company to Google.

Antibody research is critical to answering a number of scientific and public health questions, including how and when to begin reopening communities. As a research initiative focused on exploring little-understood areas of science to develop a map of human health, Project Baseline wanted to help. This opportunity is available to those who have tested positive for COVID-19, starting in the Bay Area.

To rapidly launch this research, we will be conducting serology (blood) testing and analyzing samples at an on-site clinic and lab in the Bay Area. We hope to scale this effort more broadly, and are exploring different models to enable expansion. 

Yes, this opportunity is available to those with a verified positive COVID-19 test result. We are starting with individuals in the Bay Area.

Verily needs a way to authenticate users to appropriately protect their information. Verily turned to Google for this service because Google Account provides best in class authentication. We ask that you link to an existing Google Account or create a new Google Account (which can be done with any email address) for authentication purposes.

No, authenticating your account and authorizing us to use service providers does not authorize us to link your data with Google account data. We do not combine this data with an individual's Google account, and were we to ever wish to do so, individuals would need to provide separate and explicit consent.

The COVID-19 Research Project is open to everyone who wants to contribute directly to crucial research — regardless of whether they have personally experienced the illness. Beyond clinical study opportunities, research activities may also include scientific surveys on mental health, lifestyle, and more. 

Such information from healthy individuals can help quantify the public health impact of the disease, and provide a basis for better understanding the changes caused by COVID-19. Members of the Project Baseline can access opportunities and choose to take part in whatever research interests them through an online member portal.

No. The Baseline COVID-19 Testing Program is focused on expanding access to COVID-19 testing and screening. As a separate initiative, Verily is aiming to help enable better treatments for COVID-19 by conducting research.

Individuals who have received testing through the Baseline COVID-19 Testing Program will need to provide separate and explicit consent to join the Research Project. Joining the Research Project has no bearing on screening, test scheduling, or receiving results.

Yes, individuals who received testing as part of the Baseline COVID-19 Testing Program will be offered the opportunity to participate in Project Baseline’s antibody research, beginning in the Bay Area.

We encourage you to refer to local and CDC guidelines for travel outside of your home. You may also wish to consult your personal physician or the local health department to determine whether this research would be an allowable reason for you to leave home.

Qualified healthcare providers, including nurses and nurse practitioners from a number of organizations, will be administering blood draws and nasal swab tests. The tests are being processed by clinical lab testing facilities such as Quest Diagnostics and BioReference Labs.

No. We will not share any information with your insurance or medical providers without your consent. You and your doctor will continue to make decisions about your care.

We are committed to maintaining high privacy standards and keeping your data safe. Project Baseline follows federal and state regulations governing the collection and use of an individual's data, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Data is stored in advanced systems with world class  security protocols.

If you join the Baseline COVID-19 Research Project, you will have access to different research opportunities. You may be asked to perform certain activities such as:

• giving samples (such as blood, stool, swabs and urine)
• using devices (such as a wrist-worn sensor)
• providing health measurements (such as height, weight, body temperature and blood pressure),
• providing access to health information (such as health records and insurance claims information). This requires explicit authorization.

Data collected from this study will be used by Verily and shared with third parties, such as, but not limited to, organizations that do work on our behalf. Information may also be used to match you with relevant clinical trial opportunities, which may involve other third parties like academic research institutions, biopharma, and medical device companies. If you choose to enroll in a clinical trial involving a third party, you will be asked to sign a separate consent.

 Information may also be used for commercial product development by Verily and other third parties. 

Joining the Baseline COVID-19 Research Project gives Verily consent to use and share your data from the Baseline COVID-19 Testing Program. For more information, see “Is the COVID-19 Research Project part of the COVID-19 Testing Program?”

If you still have questions on the COVID-19 Research Project, contact our team at 1 (866) 897 - 0188, or email at covid-research@projectbaseline.com.