Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Indiana Health Study?
How many people will be in the Indiana Health Study?
Why study Indianapolis and other Indiana communities?
What diseases are being studied?
How can I participate?
If I become part of the Indiana Health Study, what is going to happen?
What happens to my blood sample and information after it is in the repository?
How is my privacy protected?
Will researchers know that my blood sample and information came from me?
Will I benefit from this study?
What if I change my mind and want to withdraw from the study?

What is the Indiana Health Study?
The Indiana Health Study is a new research study that includes the people of Indiana communities. The Indiana Health Study is important because it will make it possible for researchers to learn more about the causes of diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. The result will be new and better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and a healthier Indiana.  toptop

How many people will be in the Indiana Health Study?
The Indiana Health Study is intended to last for many years and include thousands of people. It will include people who are healthy as well as people with heart disease, cancer and other diseases. The study’s success depends on the participation of the Indiana communities.  toptop

Why study Indianapolis and Indiana communities?
Studying groups of people is how researchers have always learned more about health and disease. The population of Indiana is an ideal group to study because we already know a lot about the health of Indiana communities. The Regenstrief Institute at the Indiana University School of Medicine has been collecting and studying information about the health of the people in Indiana communities for nearly 40 years. In addition, Indiana has high rates of heart disease, obesity, cancer and diabetes that harm the community’s health. Indiana communities are an ideal place for the Indiana Health Study because it is ethnically diverse. This makes it possible for researchers to study differences in disease risk across ethnic groups. Population studies are most useful when the people in the study are followed over time. Indiana’s stable residency will make doing that important follow up easier. Strong community support will make the Indiana Health Study successful and Indiana a healthier place.  toptop

What diseases are being studied?
The Indiana Health Study will study people with common chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. People with these diseases as well as people that do not have the diseases will be enrolled in these studies. The first Indiana Health Study focuses on heart disease.  toptop

How can I participate?
We are currently enrolling participants in several medical clinics in the greater Indianapolis area. If you are interested in being part of the Indiana Health Study, please contact your physician. If your physician is not part of the Indiana Health Study, have them contact one of the principal investigators or contact us at info@indianahealthstudy.org.  toptop

If I become part of the Indiana Health Study, what is going to happen?
The first thing is that you will give us your permission to be in the study. Your participation in the study is always voluntary. If you give permission to be in the Indiana Health Study, a study coordinator will ask you questions about your health and will draw a sample of blood. The information and blood sample you provide will be collected and stored in a protected bank called a repository. Once a year, we will contact you by telephone to update your health information.  toptop

What happens to my blood sample and information after it is in the repository?
Your blood sample and information, along with thousands of other blood samples and information, will be made available to the researcher to do studies to learn more about the causes of common diseases. This research will lead to new drugs and diagnostic tests that allow doctors to better manage chronic diseases, and will make Indiana a healthier place.  toptop

How is my privacy protected?
The Indiana Health Study takes many precautions to keep your blood sample and information safe and secure. Information that could identify you such as your name and address is removed and your sample and information are given a unique identifier. No information that could identify you is ever released to researchers.  toptop

Will researchers know that my blood sample and information came from me?
No. Information that could identify you, such as your name and address, will be removed from your blood sample and information before it is given to researchers.  toptop

Will I benefit from this study?
The benefit of being part of the Indiana Health Study is to your family and the community. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping make Indiana healthier for generations to come.  toptop

What if I change my mind and want to withdraw from the study?
You can leave the study at anytime. The choice to be in the Indiana Health Study is always yours.  toptop