Extended cohort for e-health, environment and DNA (EXCEED) Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Extended cohort for e-health, environment and DNA (EXCEED) Study
IRAS ID
129201
Contact name
Martin Damian Tobin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Research summary
We will establish a local cohort study of 5200 participants. In consenting participants we will extract data from health records on NHS number, disorders, symptoms, surgical procedures, medications, adverse drug reactions and pathology records and we will collect a saliva DNA sample. We will link information from the health care record to information on genetic variations from the DNA sample. The genetic associations we will study in the cohort will provide insights to inform the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, kidney disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancers, joint problems and of combinations of different diseases (multiple morbidity). The utility of the study will not be restricted to the study of genetic associations – for example, it will be possible to investigate the influence of smoking or alcohol intake on multiple morbidity. We will invite participants from the study to take part in further studies, specifically “recruit by genotype” studies and “recruit by phenotype” studies. A “recruit by genotype” study allows us to study in detail the effects of specific naturally occurring variants in genes. First we will identify genetic variations in the DNA samples of participants, and then we will invite small numbers of participants based on this information. For example, we would invite a small group of participants carrying a particular genetic variant, and a comparison group who do not carry the genetic variant. A “recruit by phenotype” study could allow us to study causes of a particular disease, for example by inviting some participants who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a comparison group who do not have the disease. [COVID-19 amendment 05 May 2020] Severe COVID-19 disproportionately affects minority ethnic groups and those with long term conditions, but why some people are more vulnerable than others to severe COVID-19 is still not well understood. Better understanding of the factors (past health status, medications, environment and genetics) that lead to severe disease is needed. To address these evidence gaps we wish to amend the study to:1. Re-contact existing EXCEED participants with new questionnaires and a later antibody test when feasible, alongside linking with data from a COVID-19 symptom tracker if they use one. 2. Recruit new participants online from age 18 and above from throughout the Midlands, particularly targeting minority ethnic communities via the media, social media and community leaders.\n
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/EM/0226
Date of REC Opinion
2 Jul 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion