The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) is committed to helping address the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as rapidly as possible. The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, located in Farmington, Connecticut, is partnering with hospitals and health care facilities in Connecticut and Maine with additional coronavirus testing capacity for frontline workers and patients.
The Jackson Laboratory is also establishing a COVID-19 Biorepository to store left over clinical test samples from the JAX CLIA Laboratory for research use and to collect questionnaires from participants whose test results were positive or negative for COVID-19. This will enable JAX scientists and their collaborators at other institutions to study the materials stored in the biorepository to better understand and find new ways to detect, treat, and/or prevent COVID-19. It is our hope that some of these studies may lead to new scientific discoveries, such as vaccines or tests for the disease, that may benefit people in the future.
What is a biorepository?
A biorepository is a “bank” that collects, processes, stores, and distributes biospecimens and information to researchers. Scientists can then study the materials stored in the JAX COVID-19 Biorepository to understand this new coronavirus to find ways to detect, treat, and perhaps prevent COVID-19.
Who is invited to participate?
Individuals with either negative or positive test results whose sample was tested for COVID-19 at the JAX CLIA Laboratory in Farmington, CT.
Who conducts the research?
The Principal Investigator (PI) of the JAX COVID-19 Biorepository project is Dr. Charles Lee, Scientific Director of The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine. Other researchers at JAX may apply to access samples and data.
What do participants agree to when they enroll?
Participants will provide consent to allow research use of the leftover COVID-19 test samples that their doctor/hospital sent to the JAX CLIA Laboratory for testing and permission for the Biorepository to obtain clinical COVID-19 test results from the Lab.
Participants’ leftover samples will be involved in DNA and RNA studies.
DNA is in your blood and other samples. Genes are made of DNA. Our hair color, eye color, and risk for some diseases depend on our genes.
RNA is the way that the genes tell the cells in the body what to do.
The data coming from these research studies will be labeled with a code instead of your name and securely shared in restricted online scientific databases. Researchers will have to apply to the database with a scientific project to be able to access the coded data.
You will be asked to complete questionnaires about you, your test results, exposure to COVID-19, symptoms, health history and medications. If you were in the hospital, we might ask you for permission to access your hospital records.
How will participant privacy be protected?
Researchers who study your sample and information will not know who you are. Coded samples and data may be shared with JAX researchers and approved collaborators but no information that could identify you will be shared.
Federal privacy rules require appropriate safeguards for privacy, security, and authorized access to personally identifiable information. We will not give information that identifies you to anyone without your permission, except if required by law.
How do I participate?
If you are interested in taking part of the JAX COVID-19 Biorepository, you will complete an online screening form to make sure you fit the criteria of the biorepository. You will then be asked to select how you would like to review and provide informed consent. This may be done online or over the phone with a study team member.
What if I no longer want to be a part of the JAX COVID-19 Biorepository?
You are free to change your mind about participation in the JAX COVID-19 Biorepository at any time. If you change your mind, please contact us at 860-837-2404.