Published on 26, May 2023

Nikhil Arun: The Innovator Behind Key COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Solutions

COVID-19 was a time of great fear and uncertainty for people around the world. The pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus, swept across the globe and impacted every aspect of daily life. It was a virus that spread quickly and easily, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe, and in some cases, fatal. The world was unprepared for the pandemic, and it quickly overwhelmed healthcare systems, leaving healthcare workers on the front lines struggling to keep up with the demand for care. Lockdowns and social distancing measures were put in place to try to slow the spread of the virus, but it still resulted in millions of infections and deaths worldwide. It was a time of great stress and anxiety for many, as people worried about their health, their jobs, and their loved ones. The pandemic highlighted the importance of public health and preparedness, and it forever changed the way we live and interact with one another.

One man at the forefront of the COVID-19 crisis was Nikhil Arun.

Arun is an Indian-American entrepreneur, now known for multiple innovations during the pandemic which helped protect the world’s most vulnerable populations. Arun grew up in Redmond, Washington, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Economics from Duke University in 2011. He then enrolled in Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, earning his MBA in 2018. Arun joined Microsoft in 2012. During his time there, he worked on Xbox Voice Search and on redesigning Microsoft’s billing and advertising systems. 

In 2017, Arun founded In-Video Impressions. This advertising technology company made deals with artists and content creators, mined audiences who viewed that content, and allowed corporations to target those audiences. He sold the company to the San Francisco-based company Vitagene in 2019.

At that point, Arun joined 1health, a healthcare technology company, as Head of Growth. Arun quickly rose up the ranks to become Vice President of Product + Customer, which is the role he works in today. Arun is charged with innovation and the creation of new products, leading a team that includes software, science, customer success, and operations professionals to achieve these results.

During his time as the Vice President of Products at 1health, Arun played a pivotal role in the fight against COVID-19 by introducing four major innovations. First, he developed the first at-home COVID saliva test in the U.S. in collaboration with Rutgers University Labs. This has been particularly significant for individuals in underserved areas who cannot always rely on healthcare professionals and find themselves needing to take COVID tests themselves. Second, he created "Testing As a Service'' to allow any organization to set up quick and efficient COVID testing on their own website for their customers or members, resulting in widespread COVID testing in various industries and government agencies. 

Additionally, Arun developed a tool for managing vaccination administration for underserved communities, which has been praised for its effectiveness in protecting the most vulnerable. Moreover, Arun enabled businesses to re-open safely with a product that tracks COVID outbreaks and compliance, which has been utilized by large American employers, schools, counties, and the US Air Force. In addition to these COVID-related innovations, Arun has also been responsible for multiple innovations that aid in cancer prevention and adverse drug reaction prevention.

“I believe that it’s integral to add value to the communities you are a part of by being an agent of change,” Arun says. “We must all do our part to help solve the largest challenges that our society faces.”

Learn more: https://1health.io/