Overview
Launched in Oct. 2020, our publicly available MyCOVIDRisk mobile app has been accessed more than 1.3 million times, demonstrating high acceptance of a free and simple web-based mobile app to estimate and mitigate risk of SARS-CoV-19 transmission.
Market Opportunity
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapidly changing science and public health advice left the public wondering what their risk of infection was while taking part in everyday activities. There is a need for a simple, reliable way to assess, in real-time, one’s risk of catching SARS-CoV-19 from everyday activities and to receive real-time feedback on ways to mitigate that risk.
Innovation and Meaningful Advantages
Created by emergency physicians, our novel mobile app, MyCOVIDRisk, provides personalized evidence-based information on risk of SARS-CoV-19 infection, as well as mitigation measures. The app uses information provided by the user (i.e., activity type and location, duration, percentage of mask use, etc.), as well as COVID-19 prevalence data from the location where the activity will take place, to calculate an estimated risk score ranging from Very Low to Very High.
An important feature of the app is its mitigation feedback. After the initial risk calculation, the app suggests protective measures the user can take to lower the score. Users select their mitigation measures, then receive a final risk score, as well as COVID-19-related resource links. The app has been updated to include such factors as Delta and Omicron prevalence, individual vaccination status, and vaccination status of household members (for indoor activities). It also includes a guide to assist users and make the app more accessible. The app does not collect personal identifying information. We plan to expand the MyCOVIDRisk app to accommodate accumulated risk and to be available in languages other than English.
Collaboration Opportunity
We are interested in exploring 1) research partnerships to further development of the app; 2) partnerships to support publicizing and distribution of the app.
Principal Investigator
Megan Ranney, MD, MPH
Warren Alpert Foundation Professor of Emergency Medicine
Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Health Services, Policy, and Practice
Brown University
IP Information
Copyright Registrations: 1-10320237499 and 1-10320160011
Publications
Bingaman, C, Wang, R, Haut, A, Hester, J, Perera, S, Goldberg, E, Ranney, M. MyCOVIDrisk: User Experience Study Of COVID-19 Risk Assessment and Mitigation Application. Annals of Emergency Medicine 2021 Aug 01;78(2):S2. doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2021.07.004.
Contact
Melissa Simon, PhD
Director of Business Development
Brown Tech ID 3089J