NIH and Niantic Announce Groundbreaking Public Health Initiative: ‘Gotta Catch ’em all!’ Mobile App
March 2025 – Washington, D.C. – The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Niantic, the company behind Pokémon GO, have announced an unprecedented collaboration to revolutionize disease awareness and tracking with the launch of ‘Gotta Catch ’em all!’, a state-of-the-art mobile app that gamifies personal health tracking and ensures that no infection goes unnoticed.
Leveraging cutting-edge AR technology, real-time pathogen detection, and NIH-backed epidemiological modeling, ‘Gotta Catch ’em all!’ allows users to track, share, and collect their personal viral history in an interactive and engaging way. With a sleek, Apple-style UI and AI-driven variant detection, the app is designed to make public health both fun and mandatory.
How It Works
Using smartphone sensors and AI-powered microbiome analysis, ‘Gotta Catch ’em all!’ scans the air for airborne pathogens and cross-references them with the latest CDC and WHO variant databases. Users receive real-time infection notifications, complete with a Pokédex-style ‘Variant Dex’, tracking everything from the classic OG Alpha COVID strain to the elusive BA.2.86 Omicron subvariant.
With constant updates and deep learning algorithms, the app ensures that no mutation slips through the cracks—because in a truly connected world, individual immunity is a public responsibility.
For added engagement, users can trade variants, complete NIH-verified health challenges, and even participate in Geo-Infection Events, where specific locations become “hot zones” for new and rare strains. Because in an era of constant surveillance, you don’t want to fall behind.
Key Features
- Augmented Reality (AR) Variant Detection – Simply open your camera and scan the air for active viral particles in your vicinity. The world may be invisible to the naked eye, but not to us.
- Public Health Achievements – Earn exclusive digital badges for milestones like ‘Five-Time Flu Champion’, ‘Variant Completionist’, or ‘Coughing Conqueror.’ Because your immune history should be as rewarding as your fitness stats.
- Variant Leaderboards – Compete globally to see who has collected the most strains. The more you’ve experienced, the higher your rank in the Global Immunity Index.
- Unlockable Titles & Health-Based Prestige System – Whether you’re a ‘Viral Virtuoso’, a ‘Contagion Connoisseur’, or an elusive ‘Asymptomatic Assassin,’ your medical milestones will be recognized and rewarded.
- Social Connectivity – A cutting-edge networking feature allows users to meet like-minded individuals based on their variant collection history. Finding someone who really understands your viral load has never been easier.
- Blockchain-Backed Immunity Records – Each confirmed infection is minted as a Non-Fungible Immunity Token (NFIT), creating a permanent, verified health record. Say goodbye to outdated vaccine cards—your health data is now secure, transparent, and tradeable.
- Mandatory Compliance Alerts – Get notified when your immunity profile falls below optimal thresholds. Because public health is a shared responsibility, and opting out is not an option.
- Immunity Credit Score™ – Users receive a dynamic health score that determines their access to travel, employment eligibility, and priority healthcare services. Those with low scores will be offered guided intervention opportunities to realign with public health standards.
- Automated Lockdowns & Relocation Notices – Users at risk of non-compliance may receive temporary access restrictions until their immunity profile is restored. Health optimization teams are on standby to assist in relocation to specialized containment and rehabilitation zones for enhanced monitoring.
- Predictive Outbreak Profiling – AI-driven forecasting identifies potential infection risks before exposure occurs, allowing preemptive public health interventions and movement restrictions.
- Variant Bounties & Enforcement – Users can report non-compliant individuals and earn digital rewards for helping maintain public health integrity. Top contributors will be recognized on the Community Enforcement Leaderboard.
What the Experts Are Saying
“We’ve long known that engaging the public in their own health outcomes is key to disease prevention. With ‘Gotta Catch ’em all!’, we’re taking that engagement to the next level, ensuring that no individual is ever truly ‘off the grid’ again.”
– Dr. Francis Clade, Chief Variant Officer, NIH
“At Niantic, we believe the real world is meant to be explored—and what better way to explore it than by tracking and sharing your own viral footprint? The world is changing, and those who embrace transparency will be the ones leading it.”
– Niantic Spokesperson
Coming Soon to iOS and Android
‘Gotta Catch ’em all!’ will be available for download on the App Store and Google Play later this year. Early adopters who sign up for beta access will receive an exclusive ‘Patient Zero’ badge, a ‘Super Spreader’ achievement, and priority access to experimental pathogen-tracking features.
Future Features
In an upcoming update, users will gain access to the highly anticipated Variant Match™ Dating Feature, allowing them to connect with individuals carrying the variants they seek. Whether you’re looking for someone with the rarest strains or just hoping to share antibodies with a special someone, Variant Match™ will revolutionize the way people connect through shared immunity experiences.
Additionally, discussions are underway to integrate ‘Gotta Catch ’em all!’ with corporate and government health compliance programs to ensure a fully optimized immunity profile for all citizens. Users flagged as non-compliant may be eligible for relocation to one of several dedicated health optimization facilities, where they can receive enhanced monitoring and pathogen exposure protocols to restore them to good standing. To maximize compliance efficiency, participation in reintegration programs will be strongly encouraged for those seeking to regain full citizen privileges.
For more information, visit www.gottacatchemallhealth.com.
About the NIH
The National Institutes of Health is the United States’ premier biomedical research agency, dedicated to advancing knowledge and innovation in public health, ensuring a health-aware and data-driven future.
About Niantic
Niantic is a leading AR technology company known for games like Pokémon GO and Ingress, bringing interactive real-world experiences to millions worldwide. With ‘Gotta Catch ’em all!’, Niantic is proud to take the next step in bridging the gap between physical and digital bio-awareness.
Press Contact: Media Relations Team
press@gottacatchemallhealth.com
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