Medical Research Should Reflect Our Diversity

Health care is often one-size-fits-all. But what if it could be tailored to your exact needs?

That’s the goal of the All of Us Research Program. This historic effort by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is helping researchers speed up health breakthroughs by exploring why people get sick or stay healthy.

All of Us has a clear mission.  The program is gathering data from at least one million people living in the U.S. To do so, it needs volunteers who reflect the diverse make-up of America.  Individuals from various races and ethnicities, age groups, locations around the U.S., gender identities, sexual orientations and health statuses are encouraged to participate.

All of Us is not one single health study. Instead, it’s a database that researchers can use to run thousands of health studies.

How Can You Help?

The program is asking people from all over the country to sign up. Those who do decide how much data they want to share. By joining, you could be one in a million – someone who could help change the future of health care.

BCBSIL is partnering with All of Us to help spread the word and inspire you to join. Together, we’re working to help change the future of health. Many people and communities are left out of access to biomedical research. Your participation is important to help better the health of your children, grandchildren, and future generations by supporting possible breakthroughs in medicine.

Why Should You Join?

When you take part in the All of Us effort, you help:

• Ensure your local community is part of studies that lead to new discoveries and treatments
• Gain insights about your own health – including risks, family history and medications you should or shouldn’t take
• Share new data with your doctor and others
• Learn about more research like clinical trials that may interest you based on your health history and risks.

How Can You Take Part? 

To start, go to www.joinallofus.org  and:

1. Create an account
2. Read about the program and give your consent
3. Agree to share your electronic health records
4. Answer health surveys
5. Share info about your height, weight and blood pressure; give blood and urine samples, if asked

To learn more about All of Us or to sign up, you can reach us at:

www.joinallofus.org  | help@joinallofus.org | 844-842-2855

Originally published 3/6/2019; Revised 2022