Veterans Invited to Take Part in Largest Health Research Program in U.S. History

Most of us take steps to ensure we and our family members are healthy. We exercise, try to eat right, and follow our doctor’s advice. These are all good, smart actions to take. But what if we could also be part of something that might help us better understand our health, advance research to improve health care for future generations, and improve health awareness among our family members? What if we could help our families, fellow U.S. Veterans, and our nation for generations to come?

Enter the All of Us Research Program. Five years ago, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched this ambitious, nationwide program with the goal of speeding up health research. The program is working to enroll one million or more participants to create the largest research database in U.S. history. Currently, more than 700,000 people have enrolled in the program, including more than 35,000 Veterans. Already, the data provided has enabled researchers to conduct more than 6,700 studies of conditions such as cancer and heart disease.

“The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has partnered with NIH in All of Us because we want our Veterans to be counted,” says Dr. Sherilyn Sawyer, one of the principal investigators of the VA All of Us Research Program. “We want Veterans and their families, including our Veterans in Iowa City, to benefit from insights the program offers today and future health advances that might improve health care for generations.”

Like all participants, Veterans have a variety of reasons for enrolling. “My main reason for participating in All of Us is because it might help my grandchildren and great-grandchildren based on what the program is doing around genetic research,” says David, a U.S. Army Veteran from Kansas. “Maybe life-threatening diseases could be caught earlier instead of waiting until it’s too late.”

The All of Us Research Program is driving health research by asking a million or more people living in the U.S. to share information about themselves, their health and wellbeing, and provide bio samples. “Our genetic makeup is important, but where we live, how we live, our experiences, and our backgrounds can also impact our health,” says Dr. Sawyer. “The data shared by All of Us participants can transform how researchers consider these factors in health research.”

All of Us differs from many previous research programs in the U.S. because it is committed to ensuring the incredible diversity of our nation is represented in research. To accomplish this, the program operates in hundreds of locations across the country, including rural communities, small cities and towns, and large urban centers. Currently, anyone aged 18 or older is invited and welcome to join by enrolling online or visiting an All of Us enrollment location.

U.S. Veterans can join All of Us through one of 27 VA medical center locations nationwide currently enrolling. In Iowa City, Veterans may enroll at the Iowa City VA Medical Center, 601 Highway 6W, where more than 940 Veterans have already enrolled.

Should they choose to receive information about their DNA, participants may learn where their family might have lived hundreds of years ago and discover personal traits such as why they love or hate cilantro. They may also choose to receive health related insights such as whether they are at increased risk of developing certain health conditions (e.g., heart disease or diabetes); and how their body might react to certain medications—all free of charge. Those who want help understanding their DNA results will receive free genetic counseling.

Participants can receive $25 for their time after completing initial enrollment steps, which include completing several consent forms and surveys, sharing electronic health records, and donating bio samples at their designated site.

The All of Us Research Program will last for 10 years or more to allow researchers to study health over time. Progress, including research findings, will be communicated to participants throughout the program via a dedicated website, emails, newsletters, and more.

“Our genes, lifestyle, and environment all affect our health,” says Dr. Sawyer. “In addition to better understanding their own health and that of their family, Veterans who join the All of Us Research program will be contributing to a national effort to improve the health of generations to come. We welcome all interested Veterans in Iowa City to join us.”

To learn more about the VA All of Us Research Program, please visit Veterans.JoinAllofUs.org or call (833) 805-0426.