Medical research needs you

The BioResource at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College London (KCL) is holding an open event from 11am-4pm on Thursday 19 February in Central Hall at St Thomas’ Hospital – everyone is welcome. Free refreshments will be available on the day.

This is a chance to find out what’s involved when you volunteer for medical research – and even sign up to join the BioResource on the day.

The NHS – via the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) – is building a national BioResource.

It will bring together thousands of volunteers, both with and without health problems, who are willing to be approached to participate in research investigating links between genes and disease – to improve therapeutic treatments.

The BioResource of the Biomedical Research Centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and KCL is part of this national initiative to help in the fight against common and rare diseases.

Volunteers are asked to donate a small sample of blood or saliva and give their permission to be contacted in the future about medical research studies – although there is no obligation to participate in any of these studies.  

Professor Tim Spector is Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at KCL and Lead of the BioResource at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and KCL.

He says: “Joining our BioResource is a great opportunity for the local community to join thousands of volunteers throughout England taking part in groundbreaking medical research for the NHS with the aim of improving the future of healthcare in our community and hospitals.”

See www.bioresource.nihr.ac.uk for more information about the BioResource.