If you decide to participate in any research conducted at the Genomics Research Centre there are certain procedures we need to follow.

We ask you to read and complete a consent form.

The consent form explains in general the nature of research we are conducting and how we are asking you to become involved. It explains the sample and information collection and how these will be treated. Your rights to privacy and how we protect them as well as contact numbers for queries or complaints are also included. We ask that you print this form out, sign it and then post it to us before you complete the questionnaire.

Our Address:
The Genomics Research Centre Clinic
Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus
School of Medical Science
Building G05, R3.20
Parklands Drive
Southport
Queensland 4215
Australia.
Phone: 07 5552 9201
Fax: 07 5552 9202

International:
Phone: +61 7 5552 9201
Fax: +61 7 5552 9202

Email address: grcclinic@griffith.edu.au

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We then ask you to complete a general questionnaire and disease page.

The questionnaire asks questions about your health and family history. It is very general because we invite people with different conditions to help. The questionnaire covers many common diseases and we ask people to please complete the whole questionnaire to the best of their ability. Only answering YES if a doctor has diagnosed the condition. Because many diseases have hereditary as well as environmental factors, we do ask questions about these diseases in other members (blood relatives only) of the family. We also need to know their sex and relationship e.g. 2 sisters and 1 brother (2F&1M) or paternal grandmother (PGM) or 1 maternal uncle (1MUncle) to you. Many times it is very difficult to know what grandparents suffered with and the only information available is the cause of death…it is best to complete this information and put UK as unknown as the answer to the remainder questions for them this way we do not have a false NO. Family information may not be available if you are adopted so if this is the case please just state this fact at the beginning of the Questionnaire.

The information from your questionnaire is automatically entered into a database but will not be accessed until we receive your signed consent form in the mail. If we do not receive your signed consent form within 21 days of your data, we will delete your information without accessing it. If we do receive your consent form you may be contacted on a random basis by telephone or mail to verify your details are genuine.

Depending on the disease, family history and country of residence, some volunteers may be asked to donate a blood sample.

The sample will be collected by a trained phlebotomist at a designated pathology collection center only. The collector and their pathology company will have been previously informed as to the type and amount of sample to collect into required containers and the specific handling and shipment requirements stipulated by our scientists.

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Results
We are unable to give any individual results, we are not testing your sample, as we are using your sample in our research for the purpose of identifying the genes involved in the disease. The knowledge gained from our research will help in the understanding of different diseases and we hope to be able to develop diagnostic tests and assist in the development of better therapeutics in the future.