A nationwide initiative called the All of Us Research Program is making strides in addressing health disparities by collecting comprehensive health data from a diverse pool of at least one million Americans. The program, funded by the National Institutes of Health, provides researchers with a valuable resource for population health studies and precision medicine development.
Dr. Ben S. Gerber of UMass Chan Medical School highlights the program’s unique combination of genomic, survey, electronic health record, and social risk data. The database aims to increase representation of historically underrepresented groups in biomedical research, including racial and ethnic minorities, older adults, and various gender identities.
UMass Chan, a program partner, has enrolled nearly 8,000 participants in Central Massachusetts. Dr. Mara Meyer Epstein, site principal investigator, notes that nearly one-third of local participants are 65 or older, addressing the underrepresentation of older adults in medical research.
Researchers are already utilizing the data for studies on topics such as opioid use disorders and diabetes-related health disparities. Dr. Feifan Liu, an artificial intelligence specialist, emphasizes the database’s value for AI-based predictive modeling and assessing ethical aspects of health-related AI systems.
The program’s impact is expected to grow, with researchers anticipating further contributions to medical breakthroughs and efforts to reduce health disparities.
