Health discoveries often come from research. Diversity in research comes from you. Some communities are left out when research is reserved for selective groups, which is why it is important for all groups, including Arizona’s Hispanic/Latino community, to be involved.

During the pandemic, health disparities that were known with other diseases like diabetes, occurred with COVID-19 as well with Hispanics and Latinos more likely to get infected, experience complications, and die from COVID-19. According to the U.S. Census, about 18.5% of people in the United States are Hispanic/Latinos, but according to the Centers for Disease Control, 24.2% of COVID-19 deaths were among Hispanic/Latino people. Research will help us better understand these disparities.

“When you’ve got health information on this big group of individuals who are diverse, you can start to study the disease prevalence in a community,” says Dr. Jason Karnes, director of scientific programs for the All of Us Research Program at University of Arizona and Banner Health.

Health care providers and researchers don’t have all the answers to tailor care to specific needs, but now they know where to look. The All of Us Research Program is creating the world’s most diverse resource of health information so researchers can study better ways to prevent, manage, and treat disease.

“Precision medicine is an initiative to look at health care on a more individualized basis taking into account each person’s genetic and lifestyle differences. That is why it’s important that researchers have a diverse database, so they can understand how these factors affect health in different people,” says Dr. Francisco Moreno, principal investigator for All of Us UArizona-Banner and associate vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion at University of Arizona. “Our team of bilingual researchers and study personnel has been handpicked and trained to better serve the Hispanic/Latino community’s needs.”

Research studies haven’t always considered the unique needs and culture of the Hispanic/Latino community. The All of Us Research Program is different. The program is working hard to listen to Hispanic/Latino voices. By studying data from a diverse group of people, researchers can learn more about what makes people sick or keeps them healthy. What researchers learn could lead to better treatment and disease prevention for all of us.

The All of Us Research Program is inviting you to join researchers to look for answers to some of the community’s toughest health questions. About 45,000 people in Arizona have shared their health data so that researchers can better understand how genes, environment, and lifestyle affect health.

You don’t need to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to join the program. They will not ask you about your residency or citizenship status. They cannot share your status because they will not know it.

The next health discovery could come from the Hispanic/Latino community in Arizona. This Hispanic Heritage month, represent your community in health research.

Learn about yourself and your health, at no cost.

For more information, visit www.AllofUsAZ.org/latinx or call (877) 268-2684.