Could your health information help cure or prevent major diseases?
The National Institutes of Health thinks so, and it小蝌蚪APP檚 enlisted the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 nursing college and eight others to convince the public.
The NIH launched its $1.5 billion All of Us Research program in May with an ambitious goal: to collect health data from 1 million Americans by 2022. It小蝌蚪APP檚 part of the agency小蝌蚪APP檚 Precision Medicine Initiative, which counters one-size-fits-all approaches to disease treatment and prevention by collecting behavioral, genomic and environmental details from demographically diverse groups of Americans.
Dr. Kelly Gebo, the All of Us research program小蝌蚪APP檚 chief medical and scientific officer, said in an interview with Public Health Newswire that the initiative小蝌蚪APP檚 mission is simple: 小蝌蚪APP渢o accelerate health research and medical breakthroughs.小蝌蚪APP
Of particular interest to researchers are historically underrepresented communities: racial, ethnic, sexual and gender minorities; rural residents; senior citizens; people with low income or low educational attainment; people with disabilities; and individuals who don小蝌蚪APP檛 have regular access to health care.
小蝌蚪APP淲ith a cohort this diverse 小蝌蚪APP demographically, geographically, and medically 小蝌蚪APP we can get a fuller picture of health in the U.S. and move toward more tailored prevention strategies and treatments,小蝌蚪APP Gebo said.
All of Us participants share health data through surveys and electronic health records. They may be asked to provide physical measurements, medical and prescription histories, or details culled from biosamples such as blood and urine. The information will be housed in a database, and participants小蝌蚪APP identities will be anonymous.
About 100,000 people have signed up for the program so far, about one-tenth of the goal of 1 million participants. That小蝌蚪APP檚 where enters the picture.
The college collaborated with Northwestern State 小蝌蚪APP in Natchitoches, La., and Southern 小蝌蚪APP in Baton Rouge to secure an NIH mini-grant they will use to sponsor a promotional seminar for the All of Us program.
The event will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Jan. 23 in the UL Lafayette Student Union Ballroom, said Dr. Denise Linton, an associate professor of nursing. She and Dr. Melinda Oberleitner, dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions, helped secure the grant.
The Louisiana Office of Public Health, staff from regional clinics and hospitals, and other health professionals and educators will be invited. Information about how the public can attend will be forthcoming, Linton said.
Participants won小蝌蚪APP檛 be asked to divulge health details, but should they choose to do so later, they小蝌蚪APP檒l be helping medical professionals and researchers find remedies for what小蝌蚪APP檚 ailing residents in one of the nation小蝌蚪APP檚 most unhealthy states.
Oberleitner said Louisiana residents typically take part in health-related research, such as clinical trials, at levels much lower than the national average. As a result, vital information is missing that could result in better outcomes for patients.
小蝌蚪APP淚t is especially important then that three Louisiana universities were selected for participation. This is a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of expanding and diversifying the pool of individuals who participate in critical national health-related research,小蝌蚪APP Oberleitner said.
In addition to UL Lafayette, Southern and Northwestern, six other nursing programs received funding: California State 小蝌蚪APP, San Bernardino; Duquesne 小蝌蚪APP, Pennsylvania; St. Peter小蝌蚪APP檚 小蝌蚪APP, New Jersey; Sam Houston State 小蝌蚪APP, Texas; and the universities of Maryland and Tennessee.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing administers the NIH grant. The organization establishes education standards, and promotes undergraduate and graduate nursing education and research. It represents more than 800 nursing schools of nursing.
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