Apple's ResearchKit vs. HealthKit: Divergent Paths in Digital Health Innovation

Following Apple’s launch of the HealthKit mobile health platform last year, the tech giant has introduced ResearchKit, a medical research platform, this year. What exactly are the differences in their positioning, and how are they related? VCBeat has found that while the ResearchKit platform is more open than HealthKit, it focuses on highly specialized areas. Perhaps Apple’s underlying message is: “We haven’t excluded you from participating; it all depends on whether you have the capability and expertise to engage.” VCBeat takes you on a deep dive into this topic.

What Custom Modules Are Available in ResearchKit?

ResearchKit leverages the built-in sensors of the iPhone to track, measure, and record patient data, enabling patients to generate objective data in real time without constraints of time or location. Furthermore, ResearchKit is compatible with a variety of third-party plugins to integrate external data, allowing hundreds of health and medical applications to transmit data to the iPhone via Bluetooth.

Currently, ResearchKit has three types of custom modules: “Surveys,” “Consent,” and “Active Tasks.” Of course, anyone can modify or innovate on this basis to derive personalized application modules.

Situation Investigation Module:The initial user interface has been established; medical researchers need only define the specific survey questions and response types.

Informed Consent Module:Given the critical importance of safeguarding patients’ privacy regarding their medical conditions, an informed consent module has been designed. Within ResearchKit, this module offers flexible configuration to meet the needs of diverse scenarios.

Activity Task Module:This module is a major highlight. Using a semi-controlled approach, it automatically collects data via the iPhone’s sensors after the patient participates in and completes specific movements.

ResearchK has collaborated with Stanford University, the University of Oxford, Sage Bionetworks, and the University of Rochester to jointly develop five task types, which can be categorized into four major groups: motor activity (including gait and tapping), functional capacity (6-minute walk test), cognition (spatial memory), and phonation (voice production). These tasks are captured by various sensors, with data automatically generated into files for subsequent analysis by the app to derive clinical insights.

A More Open and Professional ResearchKit

Looking back at Apple’s 2014 launch of HealthKit, the two software platforms are both distinct and interconnected. HealthKit can simultaneously leverage multiple third-party apps to aggregate all health- and wellness-related plugins into a unified, user-visible app called “Health.” Through HealthKit, researchers can access users’ personal health data, while users retain the autonomy to choose which specific information they wish to share. For instance, users can employ a blood pressure app to automatically transmit measured blood pressure values to their private physicians for consultation, or use a nutrition app to track daily calorie expenditure for weight management.

To ensure robust protection of personal privacy, HealthKit is designed with advanced intelligence. When a passcode is set on the phone or touch-based unlocking is required, all private data is encrypted. Users can back up their data and upload it to the cloud via the app, where it remains secure against leakage. Therefore, before deciding which information to share, users should first review the relevant privacy policies. For details on third-party applications that can be integrated with HealthKit, please refer to an article by VCBeat, which provides comprehensive information. (Analysis of 137 Apps on Apple HealthKit）

ResearchKit also integrates with third-party applications, including the incorporation of data sources collected by HealthKit. According to official figures, HealthKit is currently compatible with over 900 apps, which has significantly transformed the way we monitor and manage our physical health.With patient consent, ResearchKit can leverage the vast amount of data collected by HealthKit in real time and without interruption., such as daily step count, energy expenditure, heart rate, and many other metrics.

It is worth noting that ResearchKit’s data storage is independent of Apple’s servers.Therefore, users who wish to leverage these data must independently address the challenges of storing and transmitting massive volumes of information. This approach aligns with the privacy protection standards and implementation guidelines for personal health information stipulated in the HIPAA regulations; consequently, Apple does not have control over such data.



Five Apps Launch on ResearchKit

Currently, Apple has partnered with multiple major medical companies and institutions to launch five apps focused on Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and breast cancer. From these apps, it is evident that ResearchKit covers far more specialized domains than HealthKit, targeting highly vertical fields with substantial demand for medical research.

For Parkinson's Disease(Collaborating Institutions: University of Rochester, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Sage Bionetworks)

Working Mode: Utilizing iPhone sensors, the system assesses whether users exhibit symptoms of Parkinson’s disease through four tests: a memory game, a finger-tapping speed test, acoustic recording of the pronunciation “Aaaaah,” and motion data collected during a 20-step walk. Data from both patients and healthy individuals will be provided to Parkinson’s disease research institutions to advance medical progress.

For Diabetes(Collaborating Institution: Massachusetts General Hospital)

Working Mode: GlucoSucess reminds users daily to complete the following five steps: measure body weight; track physical activity (by carrying an iPhone with the app enabled throughout daily exercise); answer two daily questions regarding sleep quality and self-monitored foot health; monitor food intake (using the free app “Lose It!”); and record glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) data.

For cardiovascular diseases (Partner Institution: Stanford Medicine)

Operational Mode: During the first seven days of use, MyHeart will require users to perform a six-minute walking exercise daily to collect physical activity data. Upon completion of this initial phase, the app will provide users with a feedback report that includes a “cardiovascular risk score” and their “heart age.” In subsequent use, users can continue to utilize MyHeart’s monitoring features, with the app updating user data every three months. Additionally, it offers evidence-based medical recommendations.

For asthma (Partner Institutions: Mount Sinai Hospital, New York; Weill Cornell Medicine)

Work Mode: Users are first required to answer 13 questions regarding their asthma history and 19 questions about medication usage on the Asthma app. Over the subsequent six months, users must dedicate 1–2 minutes daily to complete routine assessments in the Asthma app, which consist of eight questions covering medication intake and dosage within the past 24 hours, asthma symptoms, nocturnal asthma exacerbations, and ventilator usage.

For breast cancer (Collaborating Institutions: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School; UCLA Fielding School of Public Health; Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania; Sage Bionetworks)

Work Mode: Female users are required to first answer questions regarding their personal attributes (such as race/ethnicity, marital status, education level, and employment status). Subsequently, they must provide daily health data on the Journey platform, primarily covering five aspects: fatigue, cognitive difficulties, sleep disturbance, mood changes, and reduction in exercise performance.

For medical research, R boasts a broad and global sample range. Regardless of their location, any iPhone user generates data and becomes a potential subject for medical studies. This breaks the traditional model of recruiting pharmaceutical trial volunteers, which was not only limited in sample size but also cumbersome in process. ResearchKit has elegantly resolved this issue, significantly expanding the sample pool.(To stay updated on the latest information about internet healthcare startups, please follow VCBeat’s WeChat official account: vcbeat. We also welcome you to engage with us on topics of interest, contact us via WeChat, and share your research insights.)