NEW YORK — The National Institutes of Health said today that it has awarded $9.1 million in funding to two organizations to help boost community outreach efforts for the All of Us Research Program.
The program aims to enroll 1 million Americans willing to donate biological samples and share a variety of data from electronic medical records, surveys, wearables, and genetic testing that researchers can use to learn more about diseases and develop treatments. It opened up to participants last May.
NIH said it has awarded the new funding to Washington DC-based advisory firm HCM Strategists and the University of Utah, which will develop new approaches to educate communities about the All of Us initiative and to build relationships with participants.
The NIH said that HCM will leverage the partner network it previously built through the Community and Provider Gateway Initiative, which is designed to promote the inclusion of diverse populations in the All of Us initiative. The university, meantime, will use community-based participatory design techniques to develop and evaluate culturally sensitive engagement experiences, and provide insights into digital engagement and provider engagement strategies, the NIH added.
"These awardees bring tremendous knowledge and a proven track record in community engagement, which will be critical in the program's work to foster ongoing conversations with the public and build authentic relationships over time," Dara Richardson-Heron, chief engagement officer of the All of Us Research Program, said in a statement.