Northwestern University is participating in a significant nationwide study, Nutrition for Precision Health (NPH), which seeks to determine whether personalized diets can enhance health and prevent chronic diseases. This initiative, the largest of its kind, is part of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) All of Us Research Program. Researchers from Northwestern and 13 other clinical centers across the United States are investigating how nutrition can be customized based on individual genetics, culture, and environment.
Linda Van Horn, a professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a senior principal investigator with the Illinois Precision Nutrition Research consortium, explained that "precision nutrition, also known as personalized nutrition, is moving away from ‘one-size-fits-all’ diet recommendations." The ultimate aim is to develop dietary guidelines tailored to an individual's genetic makeup and metabolism.
The study involves two modules for participants in Illinois. The first module includes surveys about typical dietary habits followed by comprehensive tests measuring various health indicators such as blood pressure and glucose levels. The second module consists of a feeding study where participants consume prepared meals provided by the study over several weeks with subsequent testing. Participants will also undergo meal challenge tests to observe biological changes after consuming standardized meals or drinks.
Data from NPH participants will be linked with information from the All of Us Research Program, including genetic data and electronic health records. This integration leverages artificial intelligence to analyze vast datasets and create algorithms predicting individual responses to specific foods or diets.
The All of Us Research Program was launched in May 2018 with the goal of building a large health database that researchers could use to better understand diseases and advance individualized healthcare. The program aims for at least 70% participation from populations underrepresented in biomedical research (UBR). Currently, nearly 90% of national participants come from UBR communities.
Joyce Ho, research associate professor at Feinberg School and principal investigator for Northwestern's arm of the All of Us study, highlighted Chicago's diversity as an asset in recruiting underrepresented communities. "The diversity of Chicago is an asset," she said but noted that it requires respect for different communities' experiences with biomedical research.
The All of Us Researcher Workbench has exceeded its target by engaging more than 10,000 researchers two years ahead of schedule. Ho emphasized the importance of ensuring access for researchers beyond traditional demographics: “We have a lot of researchers from underrepresented communities and underserved institutions.”