Walgreens to market massive population health research project
Walgreens is joining the National Institutes of Health on the launch of the All of Us Research Program on May 6. The population health research project will be utilizing advanced technologies and engaging participants as citizen-scientists to embark on a new era of health science and precision medicine.
“All of Us represents a far-reaching initiative for what’s possible in medical research today and in the future — how each individual can generate useful data about their own health and what makes them tick,” Eric Topol, director of STSI and professor of molecular medicine at The Scripps Research Institute, said. “The initiative will provide an unprecedented window into individual differences in biology, physiology, lifestyle and environment that shape human health, and ultimately will enable us to more effectively prevent and treat illness.”
The Scripps Translational Science Institute will head efforts to engage direct volunteers in the population health program through partnerships not only with Walgreens, but also Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, National Blood Collaborative, Quest Diagnostics and other organizations. Working with mobile technology and bioinformatics companies, STSI will lead integration of mobile apps and digital medical devices into the program to collect and analyze an unprecedented range and depth of health data.
The All of Us Research Program will build the largest health data resource of its kind by asking 1 million or more participants to play an active role in collecting and sharing their unique health information. The population health data collected from such a large and diverse group of people will enable scientists to study how different factors — from genetics to exercise habits — impact a person’s health.
Walgreens is utilizing its marketing expertise to build awareness about the program and the opportunity to join, while also making select Walgreens Healthcare clinics available for collecting volunteers’ health data. “With a local community presence throughout the country, including medically underserved areas, Walgreens works to improve the health of millions of people every day, representing a cross section of all Americans,” Pat Carroll, chief medical officer for Walgreens Healthcare Clinics, said. “Now, through the All of Us Research Program, we can offer people of diverse backgrounds a chance to volunteer in research that may improve the future health of all Americans. Our local community presence and our trusted relationship with our customers and pharmacy patients make us well-suited to help this effort.”
Other partners in the Participant Center include DXC Technology, EMSI Health, Fitbit, Leidos-QTC, Montage Marketing, National Blood Collaborative, Omron, PatientsLikeMe, PicnicHealth, Qualcomm, Sage Bionetworks and WebMD. These partnerships will be vital to integrating smartphone apps, wearable sensors and other mobile health devices into the research, providing real-time data on health metrics such as blood pressure, blood sugar levels, heart rate, heart rhythm and exercise and sleep patterns.
“All of Us represents a far-reaching initiative for what’s possible in medical research today and in the future — how each individual can generate useful data about their own health and what makes them tick,” Eric Topol, director of STSI and professor of molecular medicine at The Scripps Research Institute, said. “The initiative will provide an unprecedented window into individual differences in biology, physiology, lifestyle and environment that shape human health, and ultimately will enable us to more effectively prevent and treat illness.”
The Scripps Translational Science Institute will head efforts to engage direct volunteers in the population health program through partnerships not only with Walgreens, but also Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, National Blood Collaborative, Quest Diagnostics and other organizations. Working with mobile technology and bioinformatics companies, STSI will lead integration of mobile apps and digital medical devices into the program to collect and analyze an unprecedented range and depth of health data.
The All of Us Research Program will build the largest health data resource of its kind by asking 1 million or more participants to play an active role in collecting and sharing their unique health information. The population health data collected from such a large and diverse group of people will enable scientists to study how different factors — from genetics to exercise habits — impact a person’s health.
Walgreens is utilizing its marketing expertise to build awareness about the program and the opportunity to join, while also making select Walgreens Healthcare clinics available for collecting volunteers’ health data. “With a local community presence throughout the country, including medically underserved areas, Walgreens works to improve the health of millions of people every day, representing a cross section of all Americans,” Pat Carroll, chief medical officer for Walgreens Healthcare Clinics, said. “Now, through the All of Us Research Program, we can offer people of diverse backgrounds a chance to volunteer in research that may improve the future health of all Americans. Our local community presence and our trusted relationship with our customers and pharmacy patients make us well-suited to help this effort.”
Other partners in the Participant Center include DXC Technology, EMSI Health, Fitbit, Leidos-QTC, Montage Marketing, National Blood Collaborative, Omron, PatientsLikeMe, PicnicHealth, Qualcomm, Sage Bionetworks and WebMD. These partnerships will be vital to integrating smartphone apps, wearable sensors and other mobile health devices into the research, providing real-time data on health metrics such as blood pressure, blood sugar levels, heart rate, heart rhythm and exercise and sleep patterns.