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SALT LAKE CITY — The National Institute of Health's All of Us Journey mobile exhibit stopped at the University of Utah this week seeking DNA samples from Utahns of all backgrounds.
The program is touring the country hoping to collect DNA samples from more than a million Americans to create a diverse health database. All of Us has been stationed outside the library on the University of Utah's campus since Tuesday and will be through Friday. People can stop by, sign up to be part of the research and provide some blood and urine samples.
Members of the team stood outside the All of Us bus Thursday passing out flyers and educating passersby on their mission of using the data to advance precision medicine, which is health care tailored specifically to individual's needs based on their health background.
Reuben Campino, the tour manager for the exhibit, said in the last six weeks the exhibit has visited Iowa, Oklahoma and Colorado. Next, it will be headed to Montana, Washington, Nevada and Oregon.
Participants sign up for an account and are brought into the bus where a nurse helps collect the blood and urine samples. The entire process for a participant at the exhibit takes 30-45 minutes. Once a participant's DNA samples have been analyzed, they will receive information on what hereditary genes they have, how their body reacts to certain medications, and their ancestry background.
The samples are stored in a secure biobank at the Mayo Clinic and researchers use the data in studies to determine patterns in health and disease. Campino said the University of Utah is one of the researchers involved with this program and can access the database All of Us is creating.
Part of the project's effort is to engage in communities whose populations are historically underrepresented in medical research. Gathering data from all communities and groups will allow for greater representation in medical research leading to more precise medication for all, Campino said.
Wioletta Watt is a local brand ambassador who was helping at the event. "This is a refreshing program that actually lets people know about something they don't know about. It can benefit them and the university and the community," she said.
Watt said the majority of samples for medical research are from middle-aged white men. Because of this, the goal of All of Us is to increase the diversity of samples to provide more representative data in the medical field.
University of Utah student Eliza Roberts took part in the research Thursday because she said "it just felt interesting." Having never done any DNA testing, she was intrigued to join this study, especially because it was free.
Campino said working with this program gives him joy because he feels like he's "making a difference not only for me but also for future generations."
