UK’s largest health research programme launches in Scotland
The first Scottish clinics will be at Boots stores in Ayr, Dunfermline, East Kilbride, Glasgow Fort, Greenock, Irvine, Kirkcaldy, The Gyle, with more clinics to open in the coming months.
Our Future Health aims to transform the prevention, detection and treatment of conditions such as dementia, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. With up to five million volunteers across the UK, the goal is to create one of the most detailed pictures ever of people’s health.
At their clinic appointment, as well as having a blood sample and some physical measurements taken, volunteers will be offered information about their own health, including their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. In the future, volunteers will also be given the option to receive feedback about their risk of some diseases and have the opportunity to take part in cutting-edge research studies.
By 2043, two thirds of the increased burden of disease in Scotland will be due to increases in cancers, cardiovascular disease, and neurological conditions*. These conditions represent some of the key focus areas of Our Future Health, and they are all affected by blood pressure and cholesterol, which are findings that participants will receive at their appointment.
The programme is sending invitations, co-signed by Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, to people who live near the new clinics. Anyone over the age of 18 can join by signing up online at ourfuturehealth.org.uk, completing an online health questionnaire, and booking a short clinic appointment.
Our Future Health clinic locations can be viewed on an interactive map here.
Linda Bauld, Professor of Public Health at the University of Edinburgh, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome the Our Future Health programme to Scotland. We know the burden of disease in Scotland is projected to rise by 21% by 2043, which means it is increasingly important that we have access to data that can help inform efforts to address this.
“This programme has the potential to improve healthcare in Scotland, supporting early detection and prevention, and in turn helping people in Scotland to live in good health for longer.”
Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, said:
“As a funding charity of Our Future Health, the UK’s largest research programme, we welcome the news that clinics are now opening in Scotland.
“By working together, we want to see the thousands of people with lung conditions living in Scotland to be better represented in health research. In the past two decades there has been little improvement in how we diagnose and treat lung conditions, despite the fact they are the third biggest cause of death.
“This opportunity to use health data for research will help us to better understand lung disease, ultimately leading to better diagnosis, treatment and management.”
Dr Karen Noble, Director of Research, Policy and Innovation at Brain Tumour Research, said:
“As partners of Our Future Health, it’s really exciting to hear about the launch of their Scottish clinics. Sustainable and continuous research is key to finding a cure for brain tumours and bringing these clinics to Scotland is a great way to ensure anyone who wishes to support research has the opportunity to do so.
“The information collected from volunteers will help us understand new ways to prevent, detect and fight diseases earlier and could really help to transform the future for patients diagnosed with brain tumours and other diseases.”
Craig Spalding, CEO of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, and Trustee of Action Against AMD:
“Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans are dedicated to preventing and addressing sight loss as early as possible. This is why we support Action Against AMD and their partnership with Our Future Health.
“We fully endorse their strategy and vision, and encourage everyone in our community to join this important project.”
Dr Raghib Ali, Chief Executive and Chief Medical Officer of Our Future Health, said:
“Our Future Health is a programme for the whole of the UK and so we’re delighted to be launching recruitment in Scotland.
“We will be inviting people in Scotland to join our programme, giving them the opportunity to learn more about their own health and help to improve the health of everyone in Scotland and reduce inequalities.
“Researchers in Scotland will also be able to apply to use our resource to make new discoveries about diseases, including those that pose significant challenges in Scotland.”
Our Future Health is working closely with important groups within the health care system in Scotland, including Primary Care Networks and health boards. We will continue to engage with these groups to help us shape the direction of the programme.
Our Future Health is rolling out on a region-by-region basis to invite adults across the UK to join the programme. Volunteers who don’t live near a location where Our Future Health appointments are currently available can join now at ourfuturehealth.org.uk and be notified when new appointment locations become available. Many people across Scotland have previously registered and can now attend an appointment.
New locations will be announced on the Our Future Health website and social media channels.
Let’s prevent disease together
By volunteering for Our Future Health, you can help health researchers discover new ways to prevent, detect and treat common conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s.