The NIH precision medicine effort welcomes the support of California
The National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program has joined forces with the State of California to further their shared goals of advancing research and improving health. The state will commit $9.25 million over four years to extend All of Us’ engagement efforts throughout California to promote participation in the program, paving the way for more personalized approaches to prevent and treat disease.
“As the most populous state in the nation, California is well-poised to extend the program’s reach and help more people learn about the opportunity to help drive new discoveries,” said Josh Denny, M.D., M.S., chief executive officer of the All of Us Research Program. “The state’s strong support of All of Us’ goals allows us to do even more to advance health and health equity for all.”
More than 100,000 Californians have enrolled in the All of Us Research Program so far. Through the partnership, the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine, housed within the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS), will build on the efforts of All of Us’ robust network of 21 organizations already at work in the state, including academic medical centers, engagement partners and community-based organizations helping to raise broader awareness of the program and opportunities to participate.
The partnership also will help extend All of Us’ reach into the state’s research community by engaging researchers from diverse backgrounds and supporting capacity-building for institutions. So far, 115 California-based organizations have signed agreements with the program to use the All of Us Researcher Workbench, and more than 1,500 researchers in the state have registered for data access. Their research to date includes studies on sepsis, cancer risk among Hispanic participants, common health conditions among LGBTQIA+ adults, and routine vaccination.
“This project encapsulates the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine’s mission to invest in transformational work which delivers the benefits of biomedical research and next-generation health solutions to all communities,” said Kim Johnson, California Health and Human Services (CalHHS) Secretary. “For nine years, the initiative has nimbly demonstrated the power of centering communities in world-class precision medicine research, and we see this partnership with the All of Us Research Program as another step to further serve Californians over the long-term.”
To date, more than 845,000 people nationwide have enrolled in All of Us. Ultimately, the program plans to engage at least one million people who reflect the diversity of the United States and contribute data from DNA, electronic health records, wearable devices, surveys, and more over time. Their information will allow researchers to learn more about how different factors combine to influence health, and find new ways to further health equity.
To learn more about the All of Us Research Program, visit https://allofus.nih.gov.
For more information about the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine, please visit their website.
