FOR HUB CITY TIMES 

MARSHFIELD — For years, health care has often been treated as a one-size-fits-all approach, but now a national voluntary research program coming to Marshfield Clinic on Thursday, Sept. 14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. is hoping to change that by giving those in communities throughout northern and central Wisconsin a voice that could lead to medical breakthroughs. 

Marshfield Clinic Research Institute is partnering with the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) All of Us Research Program to help gather medical data from more than a million people across the United States, especially those in rural and other areas historically underrepresented in biomedical research. Researchers believe this information will lead to a better understanding of health and disease and help in developing precise treatments for individuals.

“Participation provides a very unique opportunity for volunteers to not only help with accelerating medical research and individualized health care for future generations, but also gain a unique perspective of their own health,” said Scott Hebbring, Ph.D., lead investigator for All of Us Wisconsin. “Participants’ personal information is anonymously added to a large data bank where researchers can learn more about health and disease. In return for their contribution of valuable health information, many participants can choose to receive health-related DNA reports at no cost. These reports include hereditary disease risk, how their body may react to certain medications and information about their genetic ancestry and traits.”

Volunteers can join the program online and in-person. The DNA sample collection takes about 30 minutes, and a $25 gift card will be provided to those who complete the process.

Online registration is required in advance at https://marshfield.joinallofus.org/ where appointments can also be made. Volunteers can also call the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute at (888) 633-9987 for more information. Onsite testing will take place Thursday, September 14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Marshfield’s main clinic at 1000 North Oak Avenue inside LK1 on the lower level.

The All of Us Wisconsin consortium is led by Marshfield Clinic Research Institute and joined by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, and Gundersen Health System. People ages 18 and older, regardless of health status, are able to enroll.