LIFTT, UM Rural Institute & AAHD to welcome “All of Us” Journey Education & Enrollment Center to Billings July 9-12 @ Rimrock Mall

As we all know, people are not the same. However, the treatment we may receive for some ailment does not differ from person to person. This one-size-fits-all attitude to medicine misses the mark when it comes to properly treating patients. Further research into precision medicine, which takes a personalized, case-by-case approach to medical treatment, can help lead to better care for everyone. The All of Us Research Program is a new medical research program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that is exploring these questions, and it needs a hand from the Billings community to help find the answers.

The American Association of Health and Disability (AAHD), The University of Montana Rural Institute on Inclusive Communities and Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) will welcome the All of Us Journey Research Bus to Billings this July.

The Journey will be in stopping in Billings at Rimrock Mall from Tuesday, July 9 through Friday, July 12. The Journey will be open each day from 9:30 am to 4:30 p.m.

The goal of All of Us is to advance precision medicine or health care that is based on you as an individual. It considers factors like where you live, what you do, and your family health history. To get there, they need one million or more Americans of different backgrounds to participate. Those who join will share information about their health over time. Researchers will study this data, and what they learn could improve health care for generations to come.

The All of Us Journey Research Bus is an interactive, hands-on mobile exhibit where visitors can learn about precision medicine, research, and the All of Us program. The experience will also allow interested visitors to enroll in the program right on board, by answering some survey questions and giving their physical measurements and blood and urine samples.

For more information about All of Us visit joinallofus.org/together

About the American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD): The mission of the American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) is to advance health promotion and wellness initiatives for children and adults with disabilities. The association’s mission is to provide leadership on rural health issues, which it attempts to carry out through education, communication, and advocacy.

About the Rural Institute on Inclusive Communities (RI): Housed at the University of Montana in Missoula, the Rural Institute (RI) is committed to creating better lives for rural people with disabilities and their families. With innovative services, training and research, RI strives to improve independence and participation of people with disabilities in everyday activities and all aspects of the community.

About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): As the center for independent living for 18 counties in Southeastern Montana, Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow (LIFTT) is committed to providing programs and services that help to empower persons with disabilities to break down the physical, bureaucratic and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities