Moreno to Lead All of Us Research Program University of Arizona-Banner Health

The All of Us Research Program University of Arizona-Banner Health appointed Francisco Moreno, MD, to lead the program as contact principal investigator, effective May 23.

The All of Us Research Program, an initiative of the National Institutes of Health, aims to enroll 1 million or more people to build one of the largest and most diverse databases of health information to support researchers in their quest to find answers to some of our most difficult health questions.

As contact principal investigator, Dr. Moreno will direct the program’s vision and operations in Arizona and Colorado as the primary liaison between the UArizona-Banner team and the National Institutes of Health.

“The All of Us Research Program represents an optimal opportunity to contribute to the advancement of knowledge that benefits everyone. Through All of Us, we can improve our understanding of the impact of social and environmental factors on our biology and as determinants of health,” said Dr. Moreno, associate vice president of equity, diversity and inclusion for UArizona Health Sciences. “It’s an important health initiative that could have a lasting impact on speeding up health research for all communities.”

A professor of psychiatry at the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson, Dr. Moreno brings a unique focus on biopsychosocial health to the role of contact principal investigator. His past research includes investigating methodologies such as molecular, biochemical, neurophysiological and behavioral correlates of depression, as well as the biology and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders. He received a UArizona Health Sciences Career Development Award in quantitative genetics and has conducted several studies addressing risks for depression, treatment resistance and the identification of biomarkers.

For the past five years, Dr. Moreno has supported All of Us UArizona-Banner in the roles of investigator and principal investigator. He spearheaded engagement efforts with a focus on communities historically underrepresented in biomedical research. Under his leadership and that of the other principal investigators, Eric Reiman, MD, Andreas Theodorou, MD, and departing contact principal investigator Monica Kraft, MD, the UArizona-Banner program reached a milestone of 50,000 participants and leads the country in enrollment. More than 80% of UArizona-Banner participants are from communities historically underrepresented in biomedical research and more than half represent an underrepresented race or ethnicity. 

“The success of All of Us UArizona-Banner consortium reflects the commitment, skill and grace of the individuals who have dedicated their efforts to its success,” Dr. Moreno said. “Our engagement and clinical research coordinators, community partners, clinical champions, team leaders and investigators play an important role in the continued success of the program. I hope to continue supporting the excellence we have obtained and expand the engagement of our scientists, trainees, community members and clinical partners to leverage this resource for the benefit of all Arizonans and beyond.”

“While we will miss the excellent leadership of Dr. Kraft, we look forward to the unique perspective and energy Dr. Moreno brings to the program,” said Jennifer Craig-Muller, director of All of Us UArizona-Banner. “They both have worked very closely with our team to achieve the success the program has seen in Arizona and Colorado.”

To learn more or enroll, visit AllofUsAZ.org/arizona or call 877-268-2684.

The University of Arizona-Banner Health Program is supported under the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program funding award OT2OD026549 with previous awards UG3OD023171-01 and UG3OD023171-01S1 and the CEAL funding award OT2-HL156812.

“All of Us” and the All of Us logo are registered service marks of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).