If you are interested in taking part in a Unit research study we can provide you with a study-specific information leaflet that details exactly what your participation may involve.

Prior to your visit

In the days leading up to a visit we typically ask that volunteers do not change their everyday routine. They should eat and drink as they would normally and be as physically active as they usually are.

In some studies we are specifically investigating diabetes in the population. For these studies we often do a fasting glucose test. For these studies we will ask volunteers to have nothing to eat and to only drink water from 10 pm the night before their visit. This will then allow us to measure a volunteers’ ‘fasting’ blood sugar (glucose) levels.

Consent

When a volunteer arrives at the research site they are greeted by a member of our Field Epidemiology Team. They will explain to the volunteer what will happen during their visit. They will also ensure that they fully understand what the tests involve and what the samples and data collected will be used for. If the volunteer is happy with the tests that are to be carried out they are then asked to provide their written consent to participate.

We will only proceed with a volunteer’s involvement in a study if they fully understand what will happen during their visit and after they have provided their written consent to be included.

All of the data that we collect is strictly confidential and is dealt with in accordance to the latest data protection policies. The data is kept securely and safely within the MRC Epidemiology Unit’s infrastructure.  Much of the data is used anonymously, only being identified by a unique ID number. A volunteers’ personal information is kept in databases on a secure network within the Unit and is not available to those who are doing the data analysis.

• Read more about a typical visit.