Our Future Health is a UK success story: introducing the world’s largest health research programme of its kind.
Just two years after its launch, Our Future Health is helping to put the UK at the forefront of global healthcare innovation and discovery.
Alex Causer, News & Features Writer, Our Future Health, reports
When Our Future Health launched to the public in October 2022, no-one knew how many people would respond to their call for volunteers.
Two years later, the answer is becoming clear. In October this year, Our Future Health became the world’s largest health research programme of its kind. It now has over 1 million full participants – members of the public who have shared their health information for research purposes. They’ve done so by consenting to share their health records, completing a questionnaire about their lifestyle, and providing a small sample of blood for genetic analysis. Put together, the information creates a detailed picture of the UK’s health. Scientific researchers can apply to access the information, to find new ways to prevent, detect and treat disease earlier.
It’s an important component of the UK Government’s new focus on preventative healthcare. Currently, too many people live years of their life in ill health. Often, they suffer from diseases that could be treated if they were caught sooner.
Indeed, the Department for Health and Social Care estimates that applying preventative interventions earlier and more broadly could reduce ill health in the UK by 33% – unlocking a £320 billion rise in GDP over 20 years.
The overall goal is simple. Get ahead of disease, so that everyone can live longer and healthier lives.
A testament to the spirit of the UK public
According to Dr Raghib Ali OBE, “to become the world’s largest health research programme of its kind, in the space of just two years, is a fantastic achievement. It’s testament to the spirit of the UK public, proving its appetite for supporting major health research that promises to help improve healthcare for everyone.
“By collecting information from up to 5 million people, Our Future Health will help to keep the UK at the very centre of the global health research map. We are creating a transformative scientific resource that the UK can be extremely proud of.”
Chief Executive of Our Future Health, Dr Raghib Ali OBE
Our Future Health
An Innovative Health Programme
Its Aim
The Government People Group (GPG) (part of Cabinet Office) is pleased to share with The Pensioner readers the groundbreaking work of Our Future Health, a UK programme aimed at bringing immense benefits to health research.
Our Future Health needs up to 5 million volunteers, to help everyone live healthier and longer lives. Taking part includes answering some online questions about yourself, providing a blood sample and having your blood pressure measured at a local clinic.
If you wish to take part in this innovative research programme, go directly to the Our Future Health website
If you participate, you will have the option to learn more about your health now, and your risk of developing some diseases such as diabetes and heart disease in the future. This will be calculated using the information you provide and an analysis of your blood sample.
By signing up you will be eligible for a £10 voucher to recognise the time and effort of volunteering.
Important real-world insights
For health researchers, Our Future Health is already shining a new light on their areas of expertise.
“The dataset is huge and gives important real-world insights, which makes it very powerful. There are so many cool and exciting things to look at”, says Dr Katie Marwick, a Consultant Psychiatrist for NHS Lothian and a Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh.
Our Future Health clinics can be found all around the country, to help build a resource that truly reflects the UK population.
The future of healthcare, where no one gets left behind
NHS GP and Our Future Health volunteer, Dr Amos Ogunkoya
NHS GP, broadcaster, and sports specialist Dr Amos Ogunkoya is one of Our Future Health’s million-plus volunteers. He says he joined Our Future Health to help improve healthcare for everyone.
“Today, health outcomes are dependent on our gender, our race and our socio-economic status,” says Dr Ogunkoya. “We know that some medications and treatments aren’t as effective for people from certain backgrounds, and that some people are more susceptible to certain diseases.”
He cites prostate cancer as one example. Black men have a 1 in 4 risk of being diagnosed with the condition – twice as high as the UK average.
“Our Future Health will move us towards a point where doctors like me can adjust the advice or treatments we give, based on an individual’s genetics.”
An appointment with Our Future Health changed my life
For Miriam Clark, a 67-year-old retired teacher from south London, her appointment with Our Future Health had a personal benefit. Less than 24 hours afterwards, she found herself in A&E receiving treatment to lower her blood pressure.
“It was like something out of a film,” she recalls. “The member of staff handling my appointment told me I needed immediate medical attention for dangerously high blood pressure. When I got to A&E, doctors gave me medication to bring my blood pressure down and monitored me until it was lower. Since then, I’ve had an echocardiogram and a 24-hour heart monitor to see what my heart’s doing.”
“The results have changed my lifestyle – maybe they’ve even saved my life. Signing up is a great thing to do, whether it’s for your children and your children’s children, for yourself, for people in the future that you don’t even know, or for the NHS.”
