It’s essential for the success of All of Us that the study group to reflect the diversity of the general U.S. population, says All of Us director Eric Dishman.

“Expanding our national network of health care provider organizations enhances our ability to reach communities traditionally underrepresented in medical research,” Dishman says. “Working with participants across the country, we hope to contribute to medical breakthroughs that may lead to more tailored disease prevention and treatment solutions in the future.”

As scientists and healthcare professionals have learned more about the role genetics, lifestyle and environment play in personal health, it has become increasingly clear that the current health delivery system is aimed at a norm that may not actually exist.

PMI is emerging at a time when healthcare organizations are becoming sufficiently wired, through telemedicine, personal tracking devices and other technological advances, to begin to create patient profiles far more detailed and useful than ever before. Caregivers can not only stay in constant contact with patients, but can analyze their health characteristics in real time to accumulate a wealth of patient information. Now, NIH wants to connect the information to customized care — thus greatly reducing the cost of care by eliminating unnecessary treatment based on a lack of patient knowledge.

A small invitation-only pilot program of some 2,500 patients is already underway to help guide NIH’s direction as the numbers grow. NIH plans to offer participation next year to any U.S. individual. But the addition of groups like All of Us, Wisconsin and the Southern All of Us Network point to NIH’s strategy of enlisting large groups with thousands of potential members to hit the one-million-participant target.