Microsoft expands partnership with Adaptive Biotechnologies to decode immune system

Microsoft last year announced a partnership with Seattle-based Adaptive Biotechnologies to decode human immune system using AI and machine learning with recent breakthroughs in biotechnology. The goal of the project is to create a universal blood test that reads a person’s immune system to detect a wide variety of diseases including infections, cancers and autoimmune disorders in their earliest stage so that they can be effectively diagnosed and treated.

Microsoft yesterday announced that it is expanding the partnership with the global expansion of the Antigen Map Project, the basis for their approach, to sequence the immune systems of 25K individuals while also inviting researchers, biobanks and patient groups around the world to join the project.

The first five specific diseases initially pursued will include: type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer and Lyme disease. These diseases represent some of the different roles T-cells play in controlling or causing autoimmune diseases, cancers and infections.

“We are very excited and inspired by our collaboration with Adaptive Biotechnologies, as it clearly advances our mission to use cloud and AI technologies to transform healthcare and improve the lives of people around the world,” said Peter Lee, Corporate Vice President, AI and Research, Microsoft. “This collaboration combines powerful sequencing and AI technologies into a revolutionary new capability, and represents the kind of deep collaborative partnership that we live for. We are incredibly proud to bring our best people and AI capabilities together with Adaptive in this joint quest.”

Learn more about this project here.