MIT and wearable maker Movano Health have announced a partnership to study COVID-19 and chronic Lyme disease using the continuous health monitoring capabilities of Movano’s Evie Ring. The ring will be utilized in MIT’s MAESTRO study, which aims to identify biomarkers that can predict individuals likely to develop chronic conditions from acute infections.
Movano’s Evie Ring is capable of collecting a wearer’s heart rate, SpO₂ levels, and sleep quality. It also enables users to track their activity and menstrual cycle symptoms. Dr. Michal Caspi Tal, associate scientific director at the MIT Center for Gynepathology Research and head of the Tal Research Group, expressed excitement about incorporating the Evie Ring into the clinical study. They believe the data collected by the ring will provide essential insights into the progression of long COVID and chronic Lyme disease, shedding light on why some individuals recover quickly while others experience prolonged suffering.
Movano reported its 2023 financial results in April, marking its transition to a commercial-stage company with the launch of the Evie Ring. The company began shipping the Evie Ring in January and secured a $24 million private placement agreement, including investments from a medical device company and members of its board of directors and management team. In Q4 2023, Movano reported an operating loss of $6 million, an improvement from the previous year, and had $6.1 million in cash and cash equivalents by the end of Q4 2023.
