Kansas City, KS- Dr. Sean Kumer, Chief Medical Officer of the Kansas City Division of the University of Kansas Health System, discussed the All of Us Research Program led by the National Institutes of Health, which aims to advance precision medicine by collecting health data from over 875,000 participants, including 1700 from the Heartland Consortium.
The program, which includes Children's Mercy, focuses on both healthy and ill individuals identifying genetic and environmental factors affecting health. Dr. Sarah Van Driest highlighted the importance of pediatric participation, noting that the program will soon expand to include children up to age 11.
Dr. Rachel Van Driest, Director of Pediatrics for All of Us Research Program, NIH
Dr. Van Driest highlights the importance of longitudinal studies to capture the evolution of health and development in children.
She discussed the security and storage of health data, emphasizing the program's commitment to privacy and confidentiality.
Miranda Handke, Executive Director, All of Us Research Program - Heartland Consortium
Miranda details the enrollment process, including consent, health surveys, and bio sample collection.
She emphasizes the importance of Midwest participation, especially in rural areas, to make research more accurate and meaningful.
Dr. Tomi Pastinen, All of Us Principal Investigator, Children’s Mercy Hospital
Dr. Pastinen discusses the importance of including children in health research, particularly for chronic diseases and rare genetic diseases.
He discusses the challenges of pediatric research, such as informed consent, assent, and bio specimen procurement.
Dr. Jennifer Dioszeghy, Pediatrician, The University of Kansas Health System
Dr. Dioszeghy expresses excitement about the program's accessibility and the opportunity for families to participate together.
She discusses the benefits of the program, including the opportunity for children to be involved in medical advances.
