The UK's National Health Service (NHS) is looking for recruits ahead of undertaking its largest-ever research programme.

The study, called Our Future Health, will seek to establish ways of tackling the growing burden of diseases – such as cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s – to help to inform ways to detect them at an earlier stage and prevent them from occurring through wellness interventions.

People taking part will be asked to provide regular insights into their health and lifestyle, as well as a blood sample at a local clinic. The programme will enrol five million volunteers living in the UK – making it one of the biggest research studies ever undertaken into population health.

Currently 1.2 million people have already signed up.

Our Future Health will build a resource that fully reflects the UK population, identifying how diseases begin and progress in people from different backgrounds.

Research currently suggests that 54 per cent of people aged 65 or older live with two or more serious health conditions and by 2035, that figure is projected to rise to 68 per cent.

Industry analyst, Ray Algar, says this is an excellent opportunity for the fitness, health and wellness sector to engage with a world-leading preventive research programme and has called on operators to mobilise one million volunteers of the 3.8 million that are still needed.

“As the sector works to align itself ever more closely with healthcare, what a great opportunity this is to support such an ambitious research project that fits perfectly with its sector purpose to enrich, improve and extend lives,” he says.

“Volunteers will have the opportunity to understand more about their current health status, opt-in to link their research and general medical records and understand more about reducing the risk of developing life-changing conditions.”

Health and fitness and sports operators are encouraged to become partners in the Our Future Health study and encourage their members to enrol into the programme.

You can sign up here to get involved or email [email protected]to become a partner.