Google has given a new name to its Life Sciences division – Verily. The Life Sciences division was a part of the Internet giant’s secretive experimental laboratory called Google X. Linus Upson, a Google veteran who played a vital role in the development of the Chrome browser, is the head of engineering at Verily.
Conrad to head the team
Making the announcement on Monday, Google said, “Verily is the life sciences team that graduated from their original home in Google[x] to become an independent company back in August, under Alphabet. CEO Andy Conrad will continue to lead the team.”
Conrad will report to a board comprised of representatives from both Alphabet and Verily. Speaking to STAT, a health publication, Conrad said the new name is aspirational and reflective of a shift away from conventional medical technologies to be more proactive and preventative. The company will make use of truth to be able to defeat Mother Nature, Conrad said.
Verily has its focus on putting technology to use for a better understanding of health and better prevention, detection and management of diseases as an independent company. Verily will have a team of doctors, engineers, chemists and technologists whose purpose is to promote good health and prevent diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Verily part of Google’s growing ambitions
The Dictionary meaning of the term “verily,” which has Middle English origins, is “in truth; really; indeed.” A simple question is asked on verily.com: “How can we use technology to create a true picture of human health?” The website also details the origin of the unit, which started within Google X in 2012. In 2012, a project was started to put computing inside a contact lens. The site notes that members of the life sciences team within Google X succeeded at combining the best of their technology heritage with expertise from across many fields.
STAT informed readers that Alphabet’s Life Sciences division Verily is currently working on developing wearable medical devices and miniature sensors that will help detect cancer and other ailments in the starting stages. Other than manufacturing gadgets, the division is working on clinical research and medical software.