A new UCSF-led initiative aims to fill longstanding gaps in medical research by collecting health data exclusively from Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities.
The CARE Registry, launched in October 2020 by University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), is the first research database in the country dedicated solely to AANHPI populations. The project seeks to increase minority participation in health studies and build a comprehensive foundation for race-specific medical research and treatment strategies.
Data Gaps in Research
Van Ta Park, a UCSF professor and director of the project, told The Korea Daily on April 21 that Asian American populations remain largely underrepresented in clinical research. For example, only about 3% of studies related to Alzheimer’s disease include data from AANHPI individuals.
Park emphasized the urgency of diversifying health data, noting that AANHPI communities often face distinct health challenges due to differences in physical traits and lifestyle patterns. For instance, Korean Americans may exhibit higher alcohol consumption rates, which could contribute to alcohol-related dementia and other health risks, she said.
Expanding Participation and Access
The registry is currently open to AANHPI adults aged 18 and older. Participants agree to share their health history, disease background, and social information with approved research institutions. These details enable researchers to conduct more precise, race-specific analyses that have long been missing from mainstream studies.
According to Park, gathering health information specific to Korean Americans could help identify frequently occurring diseases in the community and lead to the development of tailored medical treatments and services.
Growing Interest and Accessibility
To date, the registry has collected data from 11,269 individuals. Park stated that the project’s next goal is to enroll an additional 10,000 participants.
CARE Registry is accessible in multiple languages, including Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Hindi, to reduce language barriers and enhance participation. Korean Americans interested in joining the project can register in Korean via the official website: careregistry.ucsf.edu/ko.
Nationwide Collaboration
As health data continues to accumulate, Park believes the registry will pave the way for more targeted medical research and increase funding opportunities. She confirmed that research institutions across the country are already requesting data sharing and collaborative opportunities.
“Once enough data is accumulated, more studies will follow, and funding will also increase,” said Park.
The CARE Registry is positioned to become a cornerstone in achieving equity in healthcare research for Asian American and Pacific Islander populations.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
