All of Us Journey

The All of Us Journey, a National Institutes of Health initiative, encouraged Centenary students to learn about their backgrounds through a paid genetic study offering $25 Amazon gift cards to volunteers. The program’s bus--housing on-site nurses--was parked outside the cafeteria, accompanied by food and ice cream trucks, as well as snack carts, for a week in September.

“I’ve never done DNA testing before. It was really interesting to participate in an event where I could learn about my family’s health and genealogy on campus,” said junior Eve Haddad.

All of Us aims to visit various universities, community centers, and other locations where individuals typically underrepresented in biometrics and clinical studies can be found. This effort seeks to include a wide range of participants in order to better understand how genetics, lifestyle, and the environment contribute to various health conditions. 

The ultimate goal of the All of Us Journey is advancing precision medicine. 

“Right now, healthcare is like a ‘one size fits all.’ But we all have different backgrounds, different genders, different ways we treat our body. What may work for you may not work for me. Scientists want to know, why do people get sick and how can we keep people healthier for a longer period of time?” Brave De La Cruz, All of Us tour manager, said.

All of Us ensures nationwide availability and accessibility by offering participants the choice to either order sample kits online or complete them in person. 

“You have several options. Let’s say, for instance, you're afraid of giving blood…You can order a saliva kit that’s sent to your house, and you get that within 7-10 business days. You follow the instructions. You mail it back. It’s free of charge. It comes with a prepaid label. You also get the same comprehensive results as giving blood,” De La Cruz said.

Centenary students had various involvement options in the program, which included donating bio samples on-site, by mail, or at any alternative lab affiliated with All of Us. 

“I appreciated how many options we had to choose from,” senior Madeline Sofio said.

Alternatively, some students opted to participate through interactive activities, videos, games, quizzes, and/or surveys about themselves and health research.  

“It is beneficial to research your family’s genetic history and take note of what medications help or hinder people based on their genetics,” senior Will Boothe added.

Student-participants can expect to receive their ancestry report and other comprehensive results within one year, as the program’s high volume of bio samples creates a longer processing time. 

“I am really excited to get my results back and learn more about myself,” Haddad said.

During the All of Us Journey stop at Centenary University, the program connected with 899 attendees, from which they had 481 conversations with students, 57 All of Us account creations, and 36 individuals joining the program on site with the Journey team.

“This week has been great. Students have been coming by. They have been inquiring. They have been interested,” De La Cruz agreed.

“This is the best turnout we have had so far at any university. We are really excited,” Crystal Ramirez, All of Us brand ambassador, added.

All of Us, by expanding its genetic database and collaborating with college campuses across America, helps researchers easily access up-to-date and accurate health information.

“The more information researchers have, the better. Any information you give is very valuable,” De La Cruz said.