Diversity of All of Us Research Data Unlocks 275 Million New Genetic Variants



For the last few years, the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program has mounted an unprecedented effort to collect health data from 1 million people of all ages and ethnicities across the country for use in impactful scientific research. In fact, the data has led researchers to a shocking discovery — 275 million previously unknown genetic variants, according to a recent news release. Nearly 4 million of the variants are in areas that may be connected to risk for disease. The variants, uncovered using data shared by nearly 250,000 All of Us participants, put researchers in a position to better understand genetic influences on health and disease, especially in diverse communities often left out of research. NIH reported that half the genomic data came from Latino, ...

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Survey: Half of Health Care Workers Say Patient Discrimination is a Major Problem



Half of all health care workers believe racism against patients is a major problem or crisis, according to a new study by The Commonwealth Fund and the African American Research Collaborative (AARC). In the comprehensive study, Revealing Disparities: Health Care Workers' Observations of Discrimination in Their Field, researchers surveyed 3,000 health care workers from different ethnic backgrounds, ages, facilities, and areas of care about their thoughts and experiences with patient discrimination. “Discrimination based on race or ethnicity presents a serious barrier to obtaining high-quality, equitable health care. Because health care workers bear witness to the treatment of patients in the course of their jobs, they can provide a fuller understanding of how and where discrimination ...

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Apply Now: Use New Public Polling on Health Equity in Your Own Research!



Several months ago, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Center for Health Justice sought public responses on important health equity issues in the U.S. Now the poll results are in – and you can use the data for your own research! AAMC is seeking your proposal, now through March 4, to use the new polling data to answer important health equity-focused questions and inform health policy. “Improving community health requires accurate and relevant data to identify population health inequities, develop locally relevant interventions, and track progress toward health equity,” the AAMC said of their work. About the New Poll Data on Health Equity The new poll is part of AAMC’s effort to collect evidence and information on health inequities, which includes regularly ...

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Apply Now: Research Chronic Disease in the Latino Community!



The Healthy Americas Foundation (HAF) is giving a few scholars funding to research chronic diseases in Latino communities with help from the All of Us Research Program. The new funding builds on HAF’s effort to improve Latino health by supporting researchers. In 2022-2023, Healthy Americas Research Consortium awarded $10,000 each to 10 scholars to help understand cervical cancer screening issues, experiences with accessing screening, and ways to increase Pap and HPV screening in Latino and other underserved communities. Projects utilized data from the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) All of Us Research Hub. NIH’s All of Us Research Program is a national campaign to collect and study data from 1 million or more Americans to help inform studies and accelerate research that ...

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The Devastating Cost of Cancer in Latinos



This year, over 2 million American will get a cancer diagnosis, including many Latinos. As one of the leading causes of death in Latinos in the U.S., one in five men and one in seven women who are Latino will die from the disease. Cancer also takes a heavy financial toll on patients, whose survival is dependent upon a variety of factors, including access to quality, often costly, healthcare treatments. Let’s explore the cost burden of cancer, and what to do about it. The Cost Burden of Cancer In 2018, patients and their families paid $5.6 billion out of pocket for cancer treatments, such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy drugs, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Americans spent a total of $183 billion on cancer-related healthcare in 2015 - an amount ...

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Apply Now for Genentech’s Health Equity Innovation Funding



Everyone deserves health equity – a fair, just opportunity to be their healthiest. But the reality of U.S. healthcare is that people of color, including Latinos, face higher risk for life-threatening diseases than their white peers due to systemic inequities in education, housing, food, healthcare, and more. While these inequities threaten health outcomes, efforts are rising to close the gaps. Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, along with The Genentech Foundation, has been on the front lines of the health equity crisis, advocating for equitable treatment and representation for the last several years. This includes the company’s multimillion-dollar Health Equity Innovation Fund. Launched in 2019, the Health Equity Innovation Fund has given grantees the funds to address key ...

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Dr. Amelie Ramirez: Address Social Determinants of Health in Patients


SABCS-panel-SDOH-Amelie-Ramirez-social-determinants-of-health

Where you live can have a big impact on your health. In fact, our health is influenced by a variety of non-medical factors, such as the conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work, and age. These conditions are known as social determinants of health (SDoH). Addressing SDoH is key to improving health for Latinos and all people, said Dr. Amelie Ramirez, leader of Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio, in a panel presentation on Dec. 5, 2023, at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. "What we’re finding is that these inequities in SDoH can create social needs that negatively impact our health," Ramirez said. Screening for Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) Studies suggest that SDoH accounts for between 30-55% of health outcomes. SDoH also influences individual ...

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Explore the U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health (SDoH)



Individual health is influenced by a variety of non-medical factors, like where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age.   These conditions are known as Social Determinants of Health (SDoH).  To help improve health and wellbeing through SDoH, the White House and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have released new resources, including the first-ever U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health.  “It is clear that the health of our people does not exist in a vacuum, but it is affected by our access to stable housing, healthy food, and clean air to breathe,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “It is crucial for HHS to tackle health care and public health holistically by addressing patients’ social ...

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Celebrating the Second Annual National Latino/a Physician’s Day!



Latinos make up more than 19% of the total US population, but account for only 6% of US physicians. In fact, less than one in four Latino adults report sharing a racial, ethnic, or language background with their physician. This lack of Latino representation in medicine negatively affects Latino patient health. For example, studies show that a lack of diversity in healthcare workers contributes to heath inequities, such as higher rates of maternal health issues in Latinas and worse health outcomes for Latino cancer patients, compared to their white counterparts. Additionally, a lack of Latino representation in healthcare adds additional barriers for Latino patients to obtain culturally and linguistically concordant care. In response to this critical shortage of Latino ...

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