Precision Medicine Initiative grants aim to broaden participation

Four organizations are named to start gathering data to support mapping of genomes.


The National Institutes of Health is ramping up promotion of the Precision Medicine Initiative, which seeks to understand how an individual’s genetics, environment and lifestyle can help determine how best to prevent or treat disease.



NIH has selected four organizations, backed with $1.7 million in initial funding, to administer the All of Us Research program that supports precision medicine by gathering data and mapping the genomes of least 1 million volunteers, with the goal of accelerating research.

These organizations will focus on reaching out to specific communities such as senior citizens, Hispanics, African Americans and the LGBTQ community.

Also See: Precision medicine initiatives link payer and provider

“We are committed to ensuring that participant perspectives are considered throughout every aspect of the program,” says Dara Richardson-Heron, MD, chief engagement officer of the All of Us program.

The four organizations contracted to support NIH are:

* FiftyForward in Nashville, Tenn., which will disseminate information about All of Us at lifelong learning centers and home-based services to reach economically disadvantaged and older populations, and also train peer ambassadors to inspire individuals to join the research program.

* The National Alliance for Hispanic Health in Washington, which will launch bilingual national and local efforts to promote All of Us in Hispanic communities.

* The Delta Research and Educational Foundation in Washington, which will work with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the National Council of Negro Women to engage communities.

* The San Francisco General Hospital Foundation, which will form a national network to engage sexual and gender minorities, develop customized educational programs and study best practices for disseminating research results.

More information is available here.

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