Abstract B170: Advancing cancer disparities research through the integration of new data: Opportunities from the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program
Authors: Watson Karriem S , Smith JoAnn , Rahman Nandita , Lupi Ryan , Baskir Rubin , Azuine Romuladus , Sanchez Janeth 
Published: September 2024

The NIH All of Us Research Program is building one of the largest, richest, and most diverse health datasets of its kind. The program aims to promote health equity across multiple health conditions including cancer by making a comprehensive and diverse dataset available to over 10,000 vetted and registered researchers on its Researcher Workbench (RW). The RW offers access to various data types including genomics, electronic health records, physical measurements, wearable data, and survey data on social determinants of health (SDOH) and self- reported cancer diagnoses. The latest data release (Q3 2024), also known as the Curated Data Repository (CDR Version 8) includes data from over 630,000 participants, with more than 80% from populations underrepresented in biomedical research (UBR). Racial, ethnic minoritized populations and other underrepresented groups are more likely to experience health-related disparities and inequities. While previous data releases included aggregate categories, new data released in CDR Version 8 considers the interplay of self-identified categories of demographic descriptors and allows the examination of comorbidities, while emphasizing the importance of identifying appropriate comparator groups in research and considering the heterogeneity that exists within and across groups. It includes a 40% increase in array data, a 67% increase in srWGS data, and a 150% increase in long-read sequences, as well as data from expanded EHR sources, DHT devices, a new Life Functioning Survey, and racial and ethnic subcategories for more than 610,000 participants. This vast and diverse dataset release enables the examination of the intersecting impact of SDOH on cancer-related outcomes both within and across racial and ethnic populations, including populations experiencing health-related disparities and inequities. The extensive data release is facilitated by a two-pronged approach: A robust community and participant engagement model and the All of Us Health Equity strategic plan (HESP). The program employs a socioecological model for participant recruitment and retention, specifically targeting UBR groups. This multi-level approach encompasses activities ranging from targeted outreach and awareness campaigns to establishing trust and fostering collaborative partnerships with communities and participants. HESP complements these efforts by promoting the integration of equity considerations across the research lifecycle through the promotion of data equity and data justice. This community engagement and equity integrated approach guarantees that participants who reflect the demographic diversity of cancer patients in the United States and territories are actively engaged in shaping and benefiting from cancer disparities research. This session will update the scientific audience on recent data expansions available to researchers, provide examples of how that data can be used to examine disparities in cancer outcomes and prevention, and demonstrate the importance of community engagement and health equity in advancing research.

Citation Format: Karriem S Watson, JoAnn Smith, Nandita Rahman, Ryan Lupi, Rubin Baskir, Romuladus Azuine, Janeth Sanchez. Advancing cancer disparities research through the integration of new data: Opportunities from the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B170.