Gates Foundation snags Apple healthcare researcher to spearhead new digital health work

New Guy in Town

One of Apple’s healthcare project leaders will serve in a new role at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Andrew Trister, who has worked on special projects at Apple since 2016, will help to lead the foundation’s global digital health efforts, reported Conor Hale in Fierce Biotech.

One of Trister’s recent projects at Apple, in conjunction with Eli Lilly and Evidation, delved into how changes in smartphone habits could translate into digital biomarkers and warning signs for Alzheimer’s disease. The three companies recently published a study on this subject. The study, for which Trister was a co-author, examined a combination of data from difference real-world sources including activity tracking, app usage and simple assessment tests.

Trister previously held jobs at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Oregon Health & Science University. His title at the Gates Foundation will be deputy director of digital health innovation.

Trister, who had an interview with CNBC to discuss his new role, explained that he will be working with U.S. companies seeking to bring their health technology to the developing world, where the use of smartphones is increasing. He will also help to guide investments in local companies in low-income countries and areas. Some of these might include telehealth applications and portable diagnostics.

As Trister said, “We’re looking to help both consumers and community health workers globally, as we see smartphones playing an increasingly important role.”

Gates has a personal interest in funding Alzheimer’s research. He is taking a special focus on developing easily accessible diagnostics. In 2018, he and other high-profile investors pledged tens of millions for a “venture philanthropy” accelerator. Later, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos become part of the project.

The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), the diagnostics accelerator, recently issued its first grants. These awards are designed to develop blood tests and retinal scans to pinpoint the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. ADDF has selected the first four research ideas to be funded through its Diagnostics Accelerator program that is aimed at developing new tools and biomarkers for the disease and related dementias.

The accelerator program anticipates that it will award up to $50 million over the next three years. It plans to spend up to $10 million this year on at least 10 projects, with the first four totaling up to about $3.5 million.

The accelerator sent out an additional request for proposals for digital tests and biomarkers in April and plans to issue those awards before the end of the year. The first set of awardees focuses on less expensive, scalable diagnostics such as blood tests and eye scans. Additionally, the organization plans to dole out awards to digital tests and biomarkers before the end of the year. Trister did not acknowledge that he would continue with his work in smartphone-based monitoring while working at the Gates Foundation.