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How a new genetic database is bringing diversity to genomics research 🧬
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The constellation of data contributed to All of Us Research aims to support progressive health research and its role in addressing health disparities, advancing precision medicine, and potentially improving health outcomes. | Photo provided by All of Us Research
The National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program hit a major milestone when the first set of DNA information — contributed by nearly half a million participants — was provided to scientists in the All of Us Researcher Workbench.

And did you know that 80% of AoU participants come from groups that have been historically left out of medical research? The All of Us Research dataset is one of the largest and most diverse of its kind.

Genetic data can be paired with:
  • Medical records
  • Survey data
  • Fitbit information
  • Other data
…to help researchers more fully understand a wide variety of health conditions.

The program’s data will enable researchers to address unanswered questions about health + disease, leading to new breakthroughs and advancing discoveries to reduce persistent health disparities.

Dorothy Farrar-Edwards, PhD, co-principal investigator for the All of Us Research UW, said until now, important medical research often draws from a limited pool of participants and overlooks many others — especially people of different racial + ethnic backgrounds.

The lack of diversity in research has curtailed scientific discovery. The diversity of All of Us participants is expected to shift the landscape of genomics research (read: a huge deal for future medical breakthroughs).

Close up of a hand holding a dropper in a lab

The genomic data is available via a cloud-based workbench platform which brings researchers both data + analysis tools.

Photo provided by All of Us Research

The All of Us Researcher Workbench

The Workbench is the centerpiece of the All of Us hub — the online destination where users can explore data — and includes:
  • Physical measurements
  • Surveys
  • Electronic health records (EHRs)
  • Genomic data

By the numbers

As of June 2022, more than:
  • 400,000 participants have contributed their biosamples to the Workbench
  • 100,000+ participants have received genetic ancestry and trait results from the program
  • 3,500 researchers have gained access
  • 1,500 research projects have been launched
  • 425 institutions have signed on to the Data Use and Registration Agreement
Currently, 18 University of Wisconsin + four Medical College of Wisconsin researchers have active projects on the Workbench.

Beyond making genomic data available for research, All of Us participants will have the opportunity to receive personal DNA results at no personal cost.*
“ALL OF US” FAQS ANSWERED
This content was created in partnership with University of Wisconsin.*

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Today’s issue was written by Ally.

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