Our Future Health, the UK’s largest health research programme, has opened a clinic within Boots on Falkirk’s High Street.

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.

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.

The research programme will send invitations to people who live near the new clinic. 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.

After receiving information about Our Future Health, volunteers will give their consent to join the research programme and provide secure access to their health records, complete a questionnaire and book an appointment. At their appointment at Boots, volunteers will have a blood sample taken by specially trained team members, plus some physical measurements including their blood pressure.

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.

Volunteers’ data will be held securely in trusted research environments that meet strict security criteria and will be anonymised. Volunteers will also be given the option to receive feedback about their health and the opportunity to take part in cutting-edge research studies in the future.

Our Future Health is working closely with important groups within the health care system in Scotland, including Primary Care Networks and health boards.