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Cardiovascular disease and diabetes are associated with risk factors (like obesity) and genetics. The Biobank collects and stores blood samples so our researchers can study the human genes and biomarkers related to obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

• The Biobank needs a broad range of samples from healthy people, those with risk factors for disease and those with cardiovascular disease and/or diabetes.
• The use of samples and data from the Biobank for research must be approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee before research begins.
• Donating blood to the Biobank is a good first step if you are interested in being more involved in health research.
• These Biobank samples could one day enable our researchers to make discoveries that improve disease detection and treatment which would dramatically improve the health of our nation.

How can blood samples help research?

Blood is made up of several components including plasma and several types of cells. Separating blood into its component parts allows researchers to look at molecules called biomarkers. Biomarkers include DNA, lipids (fats) and proteins that can provide scientists with a greater understanding of how diseases develop and progress. Studying biomarkers can potentially enable earlier diagnosis and treatment of disease or provide new targets for treatment.

What will I have to do?

• Answer a series of questions to assess lifestyle factors and your medical history
• Allow measurement of your blood pressure, height and weight
• Provide a 30ml blood sample from a vein (just like a blood test)
• Read the participant information sheet and sign a consent form to allow use of your sample in research

The visit, including all paperwork, should take 30 to 45 minutes.

Who can participate?

• People with any heart condition
• People with disease risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, overweight or obesity
• People with no disease and no sign of disease

Everybody should participate - nobody is excluded.

What information will be collected?

To make the best use of your sample the Biobank needs to collect detailed medical and family history information. We also ask for permission to link your details to the health statistics database of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, to help maintain accurate records.

What will Biobank do with the information collected?

Your health information will be stored in a secure database. Your personal information will remain confidential and will only be used for the purpose of approved research projects. All research projects must be approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee and you can withdraw your sample at any time. Samples are given to researchers in a way that individuals cannot be identified unless specifically approved by the Ethics Committee.

More details about the information collected and how it is used are provided in the Participant Information Sheet; you should read this document before you provide your consent to participate.

Contributing to better health

Volunteers are vital for advances in medical research because they provide data about Australia's health. Participating in research at Baker IDI can vary from a simple blood donation and questionnaires, through routine cardiovascular tests like an ECG to more involved procedures.

You control your level of involvement by choosing a project that matches the time you have to give and the tests you're prepared to have.

You can also donate to the Biobank during a visit to the Baker IDI Healthy Hearts Clinic. This clinic offers free cardiovascular disease and diabetes health checks.

For more information or an appointment contact:

Appointments can be made from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. No referral is required.

For more information about free cardiovascular disease and diabetes health checks contact:

For more information, click here to download the Biobank Brochure.

Related Links

Biobank Brochure