American Academy of HIV Medicine to support outreach efforts for NIH

WASHINGTON, DC: The American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM) has partnered with the All of Us Research Program, part of the National Institutes of Health, to join in efforts to raise awareness about the program.

The All of Us Research Program aims to engage 1 million or more volunteers across the country to help build one of the largest, most diverse datasets of its kind for health research. Participants will share information over many years in a variety of ways, through surveys, electronic health records, physical measurements, blood and urine samples, and wearable technologies. Researchers of all types, from citizen scientists to investigators in academia and industry, may request free access to the data, which will be de-identified to protect participant privacy. Their analyses may yield new insights about how individual differences affect health and disease, potentially leading to more tailored treatments and prevention strategies in the future.

AAHIVM is one of 14 inaugural community and provider organizations that are receiving a combined $1 million in funding to help educate their communities about the benefits of participation in this landmark project to accelerate breakthroughs in precision medicine.

“We want to build long-term relationships with our participants based on transparency and trust. These organizations will help us in that effort,” said Eric Dishman, director of the All of Us Research Program at NIH. “We will look to them for input about what their communities want and need, as we work to create a research program that’s meaningful for researchers and participants alike.”

“These community and provider organizations bring a wealth of experience and deep connections to their communities. It’s a privilege to welcome them to our network,” said Dara Richardson-Heron, M.D., chief engagement officer of the All of Us Research Program.

AAHIVM’s activities will add to the work already underway by an initial set of community engagement partners and other awardees in the program’s nationwide consortium.

Other newly funded partner organizations include:

• American Academy of Family Physicians, Leawood, Kansas
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Washington, D.C.
• American Medical Association, Chicago
• Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, Dearborn, Michigan
• Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Oakland, California
• Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, Uniontown, Ohio
• Black Women’s Health Imperative, Washington, D.C.
• Cobb Institute (W. Montague Cobb/National Medical Association Health Institute), Washington, D.C.
• League of United Latin American Citizens, Washington, D.C.
• National Baptist Convention, Nashville, Tennessee
• National Hispanic Medical Association, Washington, D.C.
• National Minority Quality Forum, Washington, D.C.
• UnidosUS, Washington, D.C.

“We are proud to be a part of the All of Us Research Program,” stated Bruce Packett, Deputy Executive Director and Director of Professional Development at AAHIVM. “We hope our participation will elevate the visibility of the program among HIV care providers and their patients to ensure people living with HIV (PLWHA) are well represented. The more we can learn from individual volunteers, the faster we can reach our ultimate goal of ending the epidemic.”

The All of Us Research Program is currently in beta testing, with an anticipated national launch in spring 2018. To learn more and sign up for updates, please visit https://www.joinallofus.org/.

About AAHIVM: The American Academy of HIV Medicine is a professional organization that supports the HIV practitioner and promotes accessible, quality care for all Americans living with HIV disease. Our membership of HIV practitioners and credentialed providers give direct care to the majority of HIV patients in the US.

All of Us, the All of Us logo, and “The Future of Health Begins with You” are service marks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.