Researchers have utilized machine learning techniques to develop a metric known as the immune health metric (IHM) that assesses immune health based on various measurements. This innovative approach enables the creation of an immune health score for individuals participating in the study.
In their analysis, the team examined the immune scores of participants who had previously been involved in other studies. Their findings suggested that the IHM correlates with established health indicators, such as responses to diseases, treatment effectiveness, and vaccination outcomes. This research was published in Nature Medicine last year.
The investigators express hopes that the IHM could facilitate the identification of individuals at risk for conditions like cancer and other diseases, as well as provide insights into the varying responses to medical treatments and immunizations among different people.
However, it is essential to note that the IHM is not currently available for clinical application. Those eager to determine their own immune health metric may need to wait for further developments in this research.
This brief summary is based on information from MIT Technology Review’s weekly biotech newsletter, The Checkup.
Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/10/1125559/test-health-immune-system/