Study Participation
Who can participate in the SEHS?
Adults ages 40-70 living in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia.
Will I have to go anywhere to participate?
No. All of the required steps of the study can be done online, on the phone, or through the mail. All necessary materials will be mailed directly to participants. Some people may be asked to go to a local health center to donate a blood and/or urine sample, but this is optional.
Are there any costs to me to be in this study?
There is no cost to you for taking part in this study. There will be no costs to you for any of the tests done on your samples.
What is the time commitment?
You will complete a survey that can take 30 to 60 minutes. Then, you will wear a rubber-like wristband for 7 days. As an optional step, you may be asked to give a saliva sample by spitting into a tube at home which can take up to 5 minutes. As an optional step, you may be asked give blood and/or urine samples at a local clinic or via a mobile service, which can take 30 to 60 minutes.
Up to twice a year, we may ask you follow-up questions about your health. These may take about 30 minutes to complete. If you are asked to do a follow-up survey, you can decide yes or no.
How long will the study last?
The SEHS is a long-term health study, which will last at least 10 to 20 years.
Who makes sure the study is safe?
Research funded by the federal government is carefully reviewed and monitored. First, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) reviews the study, identifying issues and concerns, and works with the investigators as needed to improve the study. An IRB is an independent committee made up of at least five (5) members from the academic disciplines for which it has oversight and at least one member who is not affiliated with the institution. The membership:
What if I change my mind after I’ve signed up?
Please call us to let us know that you have changed your mind. If you decide to stop being part of the study, there will be no penalty to you. You may quit the study at any time you choose. You may contact us by telephone toll-free at (855) 710-9489, and we will delete your information from our computer database and destroy your biological samples. We may not be able to destroy information or samples that have already been shared.
What happens if I get cancer or another health condition while I am in the study?
You can continue to participate in the study even if you get a new diagnosis. We will ask you about any health updates in our surveys, which we will send you up to two times each year.
Do I have to provide biological samples?
No, this is optional. We ask participants to self-collect saliva and we will ask some participants to donate blood and/or urine.
Can I still participate if I do not want to give blood, urine, or saliva?
Yes! You can still participate in the study if you do not want to donate blood, urine, or saliva. The minimum requirement for participating is to complete the survey and wear a silicone (rubber-like) wristband for 7 days and 7 nights.
Adults ages 40-70 living in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia.
Will I have to go anywhere to participate?
No. All of the required steps of the study can be done online, on the phone, or through the mail. All necessary materials will be mailed directly to participants. Some people may be asked to go to a local health center to donate a blood and/or urine sample, but this is optional.
Are there any costs to me to be in this study?
There is no cost to you for taking part in this study. There will be no costs to you for any of the tests done on your samples.
What is the time commitment?
You will complete a survey that can take 30 to 60 minutes. Then, you will wear a rubber-like wristband for 7 days. As an optional step, you may be asked to give a saliva sample by spitting into a tube at home which can take up to 5 minutes. As an optional step, you may be asked give blood and/or urine samples at a local clinic or via a mobile service, which can take 30 to 60 minutes.
Up to twice a year, we may ask you follow-up questions about your health. These may take about 30 minutes to complete. If you are asked to do a follow-up survey, you can decide yes or no.
How long will the study last?
The SEHS is a long-term health study, which will last at least 10 to 20 years.
Who makes sure the study is safe?
Research funded by the federal government is carefully reviewed and monitored. First, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) reviews the study, identifying issues and concerns, and works with the investigators as needed to improve the study. An IRB is an independent committee made up of at least five (5) members from the academic disciplines for which it has oversight and at least one member who is not affiliated with the institution. The membership:
- Comes primarily from faculty
- May also include students, staff and members of the community
- Must have the expertise and experience to evaluate proposed research projects
- Must be diverse in terms of race, gender and cultural backgrounds
What if I change my mind after I’ve signed up?
Please call us to let us know that you have changed your mind. If you decide to stop being part of the study, there will be no penalty to you. You may quit the study at any time you choose. You may contact us by telephone toll-free at (855) 710-9489, and we will delete your information from our computer database and destroy your biological samples. We may not be able to destroy information or samples that have already been shared.
What happens if I get cancer or another health condition while I am in the study?
You can continue to participate in the study even if you get a new diagnosis. We will ask you about any health updates in our surveys, which we will send you up to two times each year.
Do I have to provide biological samples?
No, this is optional. We ask participants to self-collect saliva and we will ask some participants to donate blood and/or urine.
Can I still participate if I do not want to give blood, urine, or saliva?
Yes! You can still participate in the study if you do not want to donate blood, urine, or saliva. The minimum requirement for participating is to complete the survey and wear a silicone (rubber-like) wristband for 7 days and 7 nights.