Our Future Health – the largest ever health research programme in the UK – has announced its millionth volunteer has signed up to the project.
After starting recruitment just over a year ago, Our Future Health has reached 20% of its recruitment goal of five million volunteers, with around 3,000 people signing up daily.
The programme will be pivotal in innovating new ways to detect, treat, and prevent disease in the UK.
Commenting on the significant milestone, Dr Raghib Ali, Chief Medical Officer of Our Future Health, said: “From developing the first vaccine to understanding the structure of DNA, the UK has a history of leading the world in health research. Over the last year, it has been hugely inspiring to see people signing up in their hundreds of thousands to help write the next chapter in that story.
“While the breakthroughs of the past were often due to the brilliance of individuals, the breakthroughs of the future will rely on a large group of people who are united by their collective determination to play their part in making positive change.
“Each one of those million volunteers is contributing to creating a world-leading resource that will lead to discoveries that will save lives.
“But as far as we’ve come in the last year, we have even further still to go. We need another four million volunteers before we can fully harness the potential for using health data to make lifesaving discoveries.
“I would urge everyone to consider signing up – it’s something positive you can do for your own health, and you will also be making a positive contribution to the future health of millions of people around the world.”
What is Our Future Health?
Our Future Health is dedicated to painting a comprehensive portrait of health in the UK.
By aggregating and connecting genetic and other health data from millions of individuals, the programme aims to empower researchers to uncover groundbreaking discoveries that will reshape how we identify, treat, and prevent diseases.
This initiative holds the potential to usher in a global transformation in healthcare, ultimately leading to extended and healthier lives for millions of people.
One notable aspect of Our Future Health is the emphasis on recruiting volunteers from ethnic minority backgrounds and economically disadvantaged communities.
Historically, these groups have been underrepresented in health research. As a result, the project has achieved a record-breaking milestone, boasting the largest number of volunteers from underprivileged backgrounds and ethnic minority groups in any health research programme across the UK.
How to sign up
Individuals aged 18 and above have the opportunity to volunteer by registering online. Upon registration, they will be requested to complete an online health questionnaire and schedule a clinic appointment.
During these appointments, which are conducted at various locations such as pharmacies and mobile clinics that traverse the nation, volunteers provide a blood sample and undergo certain physical measurements.
Volunteers who do not live near where Our Future Health clinics are available can join and be notified when new locations become available.
Additionally, participants are provided with information regarding their own health, encompassing factors like blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
In the future, they will also have the option to receive feedback concerning their susceptibility to specific diseases and the opportunity to participate in subsequent research studies.
