The University of California, Irvine has received a $4.2 million award from the National Institutes of Health. This funding will continue enrollment in the All of Us Research Program, focusing on the study of cardiometabolic health among populations underrepresented in biomedical research. This initiative is a joint effort supported by the NIH's All of Us Research Program and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The award was announced on September 16, 2026.
The project aims to generate data on conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. This research is intended to pave the way for precision medicine approaches designed to reduce health disparities. Dr. Hoda Anton-Culver, Donald Bren Professor and Distinguished Professor of medicine, who serves as the principal investigator leading the UC Irvine All of Us research team, noted the project’s specific focus.
The UC Irvine All of Us Research Program plans to enroll 1,200 new adult participants. These individuals will either have, or be at an elevated risk for, cardiometabolic health conditions. Enrollment will take place at several locations, including the UCI Medical Center, Federally Qualified Health Centers in Santa Ana and Anaheim, and the Joe C. Wen & Family Center for Advanced Care located in Irvine. Participants who provide consent will contribute responses to survey questions about their lifestyle, physical, and mental health. They will also share biospecimens and electronic health record data. This comprehensive data collection will allow researchers to study the connections between cardiometabolic conditions, genetics, the environment, and mental health.
In addition to new enrollments, researchers will follow up with 800 existing All of Us participants who enrolled at least two years prior. These participants will complete a second biospecimen collection and repeat surveys. Dr. Anton-Culver emphasized the importance of this follow-up for individuals at risk for cardiometabolic diseases. She stated that "updated information can lead to discoveries about disease progression." This longitudinal data will enable researchers to study health changes in high-risk individuals at different points over time, potentially advancing understanding of prevention, treatment, and long-term health outcomes.
Participants in this cardiometabolic health project will also receive an invitation to enroll in the Eyes on Health study. This ocular imaging study is conducted by the UC Irvine All of Us team and receives support from the NIH National Eye Institute. Dr. Anton-Culver mentioned that "certain health conditions can affect changes in the eye." Since September 2025, UC Irvine has enrolled nearly 1,500 All of Us participants into Eyes on Health. The study collects retinal fundus photos and optical coherence tomography scans to enrich the broader All of Us dataset. This allows researchers to explore connections between eye health and overall health.
Participants in the Eyes on Health study receive a printed color fundus photo of their retina and educational materials about eye health. They are also compensated $25 for their time. If any signs of optical tumors, retinal detachment, or optic disc edema are detected during the review process, participants are notified. Returning valuable information to participants is described as a cornerstone of the All of Us program. All adults interested in furthering scientific discovery are invited to join the All of Us Research Program. For those interested in participating or learning more about the All of Us Research Program, the Eyes on Health study, or the Cardiometabolic Health study, the UC Irvine All of Us research team can be contacted by calling (949) 824-0282 or emailing [email protected].
