Taking part

Once we have collected your blood sample, it will be divided into smaller samples. We will use one of the samples to extract DNA (genetic information) and the rest of the samples will be stored for future research. For example, in the future, we may use some of your stored samples to look at cholesterol, or blood sugar levels.

Although over 99% of DNA is the same for all humans, there are lots of tiny differences in people’s DNA. These differences are called variants, and they contribute to many of the differences between people, such as a person’s blood type. Some variants are common and some are rare.

Importantly, some variants influence a person’s risk of developing different diseases.

We’ll use a technology called SNP array to look at some of the variants in your DNA.

If possible, we may also use a process called genome sequencing and other genetic technologies to look at your DNA. Genome sequencing reads and records almost all the DNA in your genome (your complete set of DNA).

Your samples and DNA will be stored for future analyses by researchers.

In the future, researchers may also use your sample to measure other parts of your blood, to see if they are linked to health and risk of disease.

At your appointment, you may be offered results from the finger-prick blood test for cholesterol and other measurements, such as your blood pressure. If these measurements are taken, they will be for research purposes and are not intended as a personal health check.

As Our Future Health is a research programme, your information will not be used in the diagnosis or treatment of disease, and you will not automatically receive personal feedback about your samples, DNA or other data.

But in the future, we will get in touch to ask if you would like to receive personal feedback from your samples, DNA or other data. You might learn new information about your health or risk of disease from this feedback. We will always give you more information and the chance to ask questions before you make your decision, and you can say yes or no.

Some of the research will be done by researchers at Our Future Health, but most of it will be carried out by other researchers.

These researchers may be from countries around the world and could be from organisations such as universities, charities or industry.

Any researcher who applies to do research will need to go through a strict application process, where their proposals will be carefully reviewed by an Access Board. The Access Board includes scientific experts and initially, members of the public, but will later include members of the public taking part in the Our Future Health programme.

The Access Board will only approve health-related research proposals that are for the public good and come from registered researchers. Any researchers who are granted access will only be able to see de-identified data about you. This means that they will not be able to see your name, contact details or any information that will directly identify you as an individual. In addition, researchers who are granted access will also need to sign an agreement that says they will not try to re-identify any of the participants from the data they are able to see.

Our Future Health will be responsible for your data and samples and will strictly control who has access to them. In addition, any researcher who is granted access will also need to agree to protect your data. Looking after your privacy and the security of your data is very important to us.

Read more about how we protect your data

Discoveries made from Our Future Health will be published in scientific papers and made available online. Your identity and any personal details will be kept confidential.

You should be aware that it will take several years for discoveries to emerge from the research programme.

Any researchers doing research with Our Future Health may profit from discoveries they make.

You can choose to receive regular updates to keep you informed about our progress and the discoveries arising from Our Future Health.