Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 30
NIH Launches 747,000-Person Health Database as Funding Falls 72%
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 30

NIH Launches 747,000-Person Health Database as Funding Falls 72%

2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 30

Summary

  • 747,000-plus U.S. participants are now included in NIH’s All of Us database, with 535,000 whole genomes linked to 482,000 electronic health records released to researchers Tuesday.
  • The integrated dataset also combines doctor’s notes, diagnoses, test results, wearable-device data, health surveys and location-based exposure measures such as air quality to support personalized-medicine research.
  • Its scale and diversity set it apart from the UK Biobank, which has about 500,000 participants but is overwhelmingly white European, limiting how broadly findings apply.
  • The milestone comes as a key funding stream from the 21st Century Cures Act expires at the end of this fiscal year and the program’s budget is already down 72% from 2023.
  • More than 50 medical organizations warned Congress this month that without new funding, much of the infrastructure already built could be lost.

Insights

The world's largest health database faces a 72% budget cut. Will this medical milestone vanish before it can be used?
747,000 Americans shared their DNA for research. With funding cuts looming, who now protects their most personal data?
Can a new database with unprecedented diversity fix medical bias before its funding expires this year?

The 72% Cut to NIH’s All of Us: A Turning Point for U.S. Biomedical Research and Global Health Leadership

Overview

In June 2026, the NIH officially launched the All of Us health database, enrolling 747,000 participants and creating the world’s largest integrated health database. The program stands out for its strong commitment to diversity, with 77% of participants from historically under-represented communities and 46% identifying as racial and ethnic minorities. By collecting genetic data, electronic health records, wearable device information, and detailed surveys, All of Us aims to accelerate biomedical research and improve health for all Americans. However, this landmark achievement now faces severe risk due to dramatic funding cuts, threatening its future impact.

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