February 2019

“Many people want to give back and make a difference, not only for themselves, but for their families and communities.”
– Dr. Dara Richardson-Heron, Chief Engagement Officer for All of Us

People join the All of Us Research Program for many reasons, but there are some common threads. Dara Richardson-Heron, M.D., the chief engagement officer for the All of Us Research Program, has spoken to participants all over the country about why they joined. She has found some themes that connect them. “Many people want to give back and make a difference,” Dr. Richardson-Heron says, “not only for themselves but for their families and communities.”

This can be especially important for groups that have been left out of health research in the past. “When communities are left out of the research,” Dr. Richardson-Heron says, “they can often be left behind in the cures. Our goal is to make sure that all communities benefit from future health care advances.”

All of Us will last 10 years or more. This will give researchers the chance to see how people’s health changes over time. The best thing participants can do, Dr. Richardson-Heron says, is to keep in touch with the program. “Steady participation over the long haul is incredibly valuable,” she says. Long-term research studies have led to major progress in how doctors treat conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

“Research takes a while. The longer that participants take part in the program, the more they’ll learn about their own health and the more future generations will benefit,” she adds.

Watch our video to learn why diversity is important to All of Us.

The All of Us community mourns the passing of Loretta Jones, Th.D., M.A.

Dr. Jones was a member of the All of Us Research Program’s institutional review board. She was also a beloved and vital leader in her field.

Dr. Jones devoted her career to improving health access for underserved communities. Her work was recognized by many important organizations, including the American Medical Association, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the United Nations.

Understanding Family Medical History

Family gatherings are a great chance to talk about your family medical history.

A family medical history is the health story of your family. It includes you, your parents, and your siblings. A full history will also look at your grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins.

Family members have a lot in common. They often live in the same place and share similar lifestyles. Biological relatives share genes. All of these things can affect your health. That is why All of Us may ask you to fill out a survey on your family’s health history. Researchers can use this information to study patterns in health and illness across generations. Log into your account to see if this survey is available for you.

The All of Us Data and Research Center is building an online platform called the Research Hub. Right now, you can read about how All of Us will make research possible. Later this year, you will be able to see overall trends in things like responses to survey questions. Researchers will be able to register to get access to more specific data.

The Research Hub will have tools for researchers who want to use All of Us data. One of these tools is called the Researcher Workbench. This is where approved researchers can access research data to make discoveries. They will use this data to create or support their research projects. Visit the Research Hub to learn more and sign up to get updates.

Participants with Fitbits can link their Fitbit and All of Us accounts to share their data. Other trackers and devices will be added in the future. Log into your account to access this new feature.