Vodafone Foundation is tapping into the power of DreamLab and inviting more than 20 million^ Aussie smartphone users to join the fight against COVID-19.
DreamLab is a multi-award winning app that launched in 2015 in partnership with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and uses the processing power of idle smartphones to help fast track cancer research.
From today, DreamLab will refocus its efforts to speed up the discovery of anti-viral properties in existing medicines and anti-viral food molecules to help solve COVID-19, by supporting a research project from The Imperial College London.
Head of Vodafone Foundation Australia and creator of DreamLab, Alyssa Lane, said refocusing DreamLab creates a new, simple way for Aussies to help.
"Australians face an unprecedented set of challenges as a result of COVID-19. While most of us do our part by staying home, DreamLab offers everyone the power to join the fight. Simply download the DreamLab app and join the DreamTeam," said Ms Lane.
"Imperial College has a proven track record using DreamLab to find existing drugs and hyperfoods that help fight cancer. The agile nature of DreamLab has enabled us to react quickly and refocus to address COVID-19 and the unprecedented set of circumstances the world is facing.
"Combining the expertise of Imperial College and the power of more than 20 million Aussie smartphone users, DreamLab is sure to drive some incredible results."
While traditional experimental research and standard research methods could take years to develop, the mobile cloud-based processing approach of DreamLab can drastically reduce the time taken to analyse the huge amount of data that exists.
The project to help support COVID-19 research will be available to DreamLab users in Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, Romania and the UK from today, with other countries to follow in coming weeks.*
"Over the past five years we have seen huge success with DreamLab and its support for cancer research. Now we want Aussies to #JoinTheDreamTeam and make a difference in the fight against COVID-19," said Ms Lane.
To download the app, search for DreamLab in the App store for iOS or Play Store for Android.
