7 Health Innovations from Doctor Google
1. Genome Storage
Google Genomics is a program that stores genomes in the cloud for $25/year. Google wants to help university laboratories and hospitals patient’s genomes in the cloud. Google will keep a copy of any genome allowing researchers to access millions of genomes and analyze them in future studies.
2. Google is developing a cancer and heart-attack detecting pill
Google researchers are developing a nano particle pill that could identify cancers, heart attacks and other diseases before they become a problem. Magnetic nano particles (less than one-thousandth the width of a red blood cell) circulates through the blood to detect and report signs of cancer or an imminent heart attack
What does the future hold? Google hopes every test a patient undergoes with their doctor is through this system. Taking it even further, Google is also making synthetic skin to test this on. To detect the light coming from the nano particles pills, Google need to understand exactly how light passes through the skin The skin, similar to human skin has the same auto-fluroscence and biochemical component.
3. Google wants to unlock secrets of aging
Googel created California-based company Calico that is focused on aging and age-related diseases. In Sept 2014, Calico announced $1.5 billion partnership with pharmaceutical company AbbVie to accelerate discovery, development, and commercialization of age-related conditions such as neuro-degeneration and cancer.
4. Google Glass
Despite consumers not using Google Glass, still high hopes for its implication in hospitals. Especially in the use of surgery, magnifying vision
5. Google developing Smart Contact Lens for Diabetic Patients
Partnering with global pharma company Novartis. Help patients manage diabetes. Lens contains microchip and hair-thin electronic circuit that measures blood sugar levels directly from tear fluid on surface of eyeball and transmits the data to a mobile device
6. Google working to create computer system similar to human brain
Google acquired deep learning start-up in Jan 2014, “DeepMind." They've announced the launch of a computer that mimics the short-term memory of a human brain. The computer learns as it stores memories and can later retrieve them to perform logical tasks. Neural network is based around the idea of creating a computer that simulates what happens in the human brain but making it more efficient.
7. Google wants to make medical records open for sharing
Google co-founder Larry Page said in a recent talk:
“Wouldn't it be amazing if everyone’s medical records were available anonymously to research doctors?” This has some privacy questions but an interesting idea, which stems from a bigger trend of information sharing —has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives.