Healthcare technology developer Huami Corp announces on April 9 that it will cooperate with China's leading respiratory institute to build a joint laboratory. [Photo/huami.com]

Smart wearable developer Huami Corp recently signed a cooperation agreement with the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease and the Guangdong Nanshan Medical Innovation Research Institute, both led by China's top respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan.

The three parties will carry out a project focusing on discharged COVID-19 patients and their rehabilitation in response to a call by the National Health Commission, as the virus has been mostly contained in China.

The project takes advantage of Huami's wearable technology, artificial intelligence algorithms, and collected human data, as well as the respiratory health big data platform of the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease.

The National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease leads respiratory research in China and plays a significant role in fighting respiratory diseases. It is supported by more than 50 major hospitals in China.

Zheng Jinping, vice director of the research center, said that the new project will be difficult but is necessary. He also said Huami's technical strength will be of great benefit to the project.

Huami's smart wearable products are expected to improve prognoses related to spots, sleep, heart rate, and rehabilitation.

The three parties plan to use the project as a basis for establishing a joint laboratory for developing epidemic monitoring and early warning systems.

Huang Wang, president of Huami, said the company has been striving to enhance cooperation with medical institutions and research institutes. He said the laboratory is expected to expand the use of smart wearable products in the field of respiratory health.

Huami Corp, based in the Hefei National High-tech Industrial Development Zone in Hefei, Anhui province, has long been committed to using technology to improve people's health. It even developed a mini program to determine how likely people are to be infected and developed smart watches to help alleviate pressure on medical staff amid the epidemic.