Apple's new research study is the most ambitious one yet

Following very many specific studies and research collaborations, Apple has announced a new program that takes a holistic overview of health.

Previously, Apple has collaborated with medical researchers on issues ranging from menstrual cycles and even pickelball, to hearing loss and also sleep tracking. Now the company says it wants to research overall health issues, and has launched a new Apple Health Study in collaboration with the Brigham and Women's Hospital.

"We've only just begun to scratch the surface of how technology can improve our understanding of human health," Calum MacRae, MD, PhD., a cardiologist, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and principal investigator of the Apple Health Study at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said in a statement. "We are excited to be part of the Apple Health Study, as it will continue to explore connections across different areas of health using technology that so many people carry with them every day."

Describing it as a "new longitudinal, virtual study," the program aims to research how health data can be better used. Whether it's from Apple devices or others, Apple believes that gathered heath data can be better "used to predict, detect, monitor and manage changes in participants' health."

The Apple Health Study will also seek to explore connections between different health issues. The study is open only to US residents, who can now apply to be part of the program through Apple's Research app.

The study intends to cover all areas of health, including:

• Aging
• Cardiovascular health
• Circulatory health
• Cognition
• Hearing
• Menstrual health
• Mental health
• Metabolic health
• Mobility
• Neurologic health
• Respiratory health
• Sleep

"Research and validation are part of the foundation of all of our work in health, supporting the innovative features we bring to our users across devices," Sumbul Desai, MD, Apple's vice president of Health, said. "The valuable insights we've gained since launching the Research app have allowed us to bring innovative new tools to our users — including the Vitals app on Apple Watch and Walking Steadiness on iPhone — and surface new insights in areas of health that have long been undervalued, like menstrual and hearing health."

"We're thrilled to bring forward the Apple Health Study, which will only accelerate our understanding of health and technology across the human body, both physically and mentally," she continued.

The announcement of the new Apple Health Study comes as Apple is expected to make a series of press releases regarding new program or device launches. The launches are reported to include the iPhone SE 4, and news relating to the Apple Vision Pro.