Academic libraries are instrumental in connecting researchers with emerging data resources. A project led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is strengthening that connection. The All of Us Data Training and Engagement for Academic Libraries Program (All of Us) equips college and university libraries with the training and resources needed to support researchers working with health and biomedical data.
Central to the initiative is the All of Us Research Hub, which brings together scientists and people from a range of backgrounds to advance precision medicine through one of the largest and most diverse health care datasets ever assembled. With contributions from over 500,000 participants—80% from underrepresented communities and 50% identified as racial or ethnic minorities— the dataset is optimal for tailoring care to address health disparities.
While aggregate data in the hub can be explored through the public data browser, researchers can register to gain proprietary access to the Researcher Workbench, which offers advanced tools designed for in-depth analysis. When users register for the workbench, they provide details about their projects, enabling other participants and the public to see how the data is being used.
To protect participant information, all data is encrypted and identifying details removed. Researchers must undergo ethics training and agree to a code of conduct, and partner organizations must meet strict data security standards before collecting, transferring, or storing information.
Members of the Academic Libraries Program cohort are granted registered access to the secure, cloud-based researcher workbench, where they can not only analyze a vast array of de-identified biological, environmental, and health information, but also explore and learn from the projects of their peers. Additionally, cohort members receive specialized training in health data management, participate in regular meetings to share strategies, and acquire funding to enhance resources.
The program began with a pilot cohort of 15 institutions in 2023. After an open call for applications, libraries at 10 new schools joined: Grand Valley State University; North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; San Jose State University; Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College; State University of New York at Buffalo; University of Illinois at Chicago; University of Mississippi; University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus; University of South Dakota; and University of the Incarnate Word.
Associate Head and Associate Professor of Scholar Support and Data Services Savannah Kelly, PhD, and Assistant Professor of Scholar Support and Data Services Shelby Watson, PhD, at the University of Mississippi Libraries, facilitate workshops in R and Python to help users navigate the workbench effectively. R, strong in statistics and widely used in fields like bioinformatics and economics, and Python, known for its versatility in machine learning and artificial intelligence, are both open-source programming languages that enable researchers to analyze large datasets, automate tasks, and build complex models, enhancing research efficiency. In addition to the workshops, outreach is being conducted with underrepresented faculty and students and mini grants are being offered to support interdisciplinary research using the dataset.
Through NIH, All of Us has already advanced cancer and diabetes care and improved disease prediction, with a long-term goal of enrolling over 1 million participants and building a global network of 10,000 researchers to help understand the factors that influence health. Their Data Training and Engagement for Academic Libraries Program is paramount to supporting researchers, promoting inclusive research practices, and addressing health disparities through innovative, data-driven approaches.
