CHARLOTTE — A new medical program visiting east Charlotte could change the way underrepresented communities are treated.
Brave de la Cruz sets and up tears down twice a day. She’s the site manager for a mobile exhibit from the National Institutes of Health called “All of Us.”
The program is in Charlotte for a three-day stop as part of its mission to enroll 1 million people from across the country in a diverse health database.
“Everyone is diverse,” de la Cruz said. “No two individuals are the same.”
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The mobile exhibit is set up at International House, which is along Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood, but its focus is on most of east Charlotte, which has a higher population of Black and brown people, according to the city.
In fact, the latest data shows more than 50% of people in the 28215 ZIP code are Black and 19% are Hispanic.
De la Cruz said so far, most of the participants have been historically underrepresented in medical research.
“Healthcare right now is a one-size-fits-all, and we can’t help you if you decide you don’t want to get involved,” de la Cruz said.
People who enroll in the program will share information about their health, habits, and surroundings. Researchers then analyze the database for patterns, and to determine how to best treat and study certain illnesses. A bus acting as a health clinic has a registered nurse taking vital information, like urine and blood samples.
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Participant Jackie Rodriguez Aguirre said the few minutes of discomfort is worth it.
“The more people that go in, the more information they will get, and the better research they can get,” Aguirre said.
The program is free and confidential. The best part is it could help fight diseases down the road.
“I think it’s really important if we can all get involved and make a difference long term,” de la Cruz said.
The All of Us program has visited more than 100 cities since it launched in 2018. It will wrap up in Charlotte on Thursday at 4 p.m., but you can still participate virtually.
For more information, click here.
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