Participtant Registry

1. Individuals from the community express their interest in becoming members of the Registry by providing their name and contact information to the Registry coordinator (see below).
2. Then we ask interested persons to sign a consent and authorization document and complete an initial questionnaire that serves to enroll them in the Registry. There is a follow-up questionnaire every 18 months that allows us to keep members' information current. These questionnaires take about 30 minutes to complete and contain questions on medical conditions and medications as well as other health-related and demographic questions.
3. When a University researchers contacts us needing research participants, we identify the requirements of their particular study. For example, people with very specific medical conditions such as diabetes or hypertension may be needed. The research may also focus on selected age groups. Once we know the study requirements, we turn to the second part of the match - the research volunteer.
4. Responses to the questionnaire filled out by the Registry member are used to identify individuals who meet eligibility criteria for a study and who express willingness to be contacted for that type of research.
5. If a match occurs, the volunteer grants permission for the researcher to contact them to explain what is involved in the particular study. The person then decides if he or she wants to participate in the study, based on a full explanation of what is involved in that research project. We realize that people have varying interests in research and differing amounts of time and energy to take part in research. So, we try to match the research project requirements to the interests and characteristics of people who might be willing to take part.

No. Many of the aging-related research studies being conducted by our faculty depend on identifying volunteers of all ages who are willing to participate in research.

No. Becoming a member of the Research Participant Registry does not obligate volunteers in any way to take part in any specific research project. Volunteers will always be given more detailed information and will be asked to decide whether to take part in a study based on the project-specific information.

• If you wish to become a member of the Research Participant Registry, please e-mail aging@utah.edu and include your name, phone number, mailing address, e-mail address, and best time to reach you. You will be contacted to answer any questions.
• Review the consent and authorization form (it can also be mailed to you), sign, and return it by mail (electronic copies are not acceptable as we need your original signature on file).
• Upon receipt of your signed consent and authorization form you will directed to where you may fill out the questionnaire online or a copy will be mailed to you.
• Your completed questionnaire enrolls you in the Registry.

We hope that you will decide to support the efforts of our University of Utah faculty members to learn more about the health and well-being of older adults by becoming a member of this registry. This is an exciting time to become involved in aging research studies at the University of Utah.

The Research Participant Registry is a partnership between the Center on Aging, the Resource for Genetic and Epidemiologic Research, the Utah Population Database, and the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences.