DreamLab helps Aussies fight against COVID-19 in their sleep
20 million Aussies invited to #JoinTheDreamTeam
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.
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Background
*DreamLab vs Coronavirus will be launched by Vodafone Foundation from 8 April in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Italy, Romania and Spain, on 27th April in Portugal, Ghana, South Africa, Lesotho, Germany; and launching in Ireland, Greece, Turkey and Albania from 1 June.
^Deloitte Mobile Nation Report 2019
The DreamLab server is powered by Amazon Web Services. The app is built by the clever team at Transpire.
About Vodafone Foundation
Vodafone Foundation Australia’s mission is to use the power of mobile technology to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians. For six years, the Vodafone Foundation AU has partnered with the Garvan Institute to speed up cancer research with the DreamLab app, and with Hello Sunday morning to support Australians to change their relationship with alcohol with the Daybreak app. Vodafone Foundation AU is one of 27 Vodafone Foundations globally which combine charitable giving and technology to make a difference in the world. Vodafone Foundation is an independent UK registered charity, registered charity number 1089625.
About Imperial College London
Imperial College London is one of the world’s leading universities. The College’s 17,000 students and 8,000 staff are expanding the frontiers of knowledge in science, medicine, engineering and business, and translating their discoveries into benefits for our society.
Imperial is the UK’s most international university, according to Times Higher Education, with academic ties to more than 150 countries. Reuters named the College as the UK’s most innovative university because of its exceptional entrepreneurial culture and ties to industry.
Important things to know about Dream Lab: A compatible handset is required. Downloading DreamLab will consume data. Once downloaded, DreamLab can be used when your device (i) is connected to a charging source and (ii) has mobile network or WiFi connectivity. Mobile data to use DreamLab is free for Vodafone Australia customers on the Vodafone Australia network. Roaming incurs international rates.