dGTEx Study Information for Families FAQ
A. General FAQs about the dGTEx Project
What is dGTEx?
dGTEx is the Developmental Genotype-Tissue Expression Project. dGTEx is an NIH-supported initiative that will establish a scientific research resource of data in pediatric tissues to better understand the impact of genetic variation on health and disease. The data from dGTEx will help understand how tissues are different from one another, how cells change during childhood development, and which cell changes might be the most important in childhood diseases. By studying how genes affect our health, scientists can better understand how to prevent and treat certain types of diseases and reduce health disparities among groups of people.
What is the purpose of the project?
Genes are the instructions our cells use for building and repairing our bodies and for controlling our day-to-day vital functions. Scientists know that certain changes to genes alter the normal instructions and can impact normal human development or increase a person’s risk of getting diseases like cancer, diabetes, or cystic fibrosis. Exactly how the changes in genes do this is still poorly understood. Research in this area offers incredible potential for discovering how to treat and prevent many devastating diseases, including pediatric disease.
dGTEx will create a scientific resource of pediatric tissue and genetic data to examine how gene expression from different tissues changes across development to help advance the study of normal childhood development and pediatric diseases, such as cancer or autism spectrum disorder.
What impact will dGTEx have on health and medicine?
dGTEx will help researchers find out what changes in genes are occurring during development that may contribute to pediatric and adult diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Children are different from adults, however scientists don’t yet understand why pediatric tissues are different from adult tissues. Understanding how children’s tissues, and the cells in those tissues, change through childhood development will help in understanding how pediatric diseases develop and how changes early in development can also lead to adult diseases later on. This project will create a much-needed resource of genetic data and tissues that will support a large number of investigations in the future.
What does Biobank and genetic Database mean?
A Biobank is a facility that stores donated tissues from many people so that it can be used in future medical research studies. The genetic Database is where the genetic data and associated anonymous medical/clinical information will be stored.
Where is the Biobank located?
Brain tissue will be stored at the University of Maryland Brain and Tissue Bank, a not-for-profit organization contracted by the National Institutes of Health to store the tissues. Lung tissue will be stored at the University of Rochester. All other tissue will be stored at the Broad Institute in Boston. The Biobanks are secured facilities and only approved personnel are allowed to access the biobank.
B. FAQs about dGTEx tissue donation
Who will have access to the tissue samples and the medical/genetic information about the donor?
Researchers and scientists from academic, government and commercial labs, worldwide will be able to request access. To access the tissues and the full genetic database, researchers will undergo a formal review process before research projects are approved. Researchers will sign an agreement to protect privacy and confidentiality of the donor.
How does the project protect the confidentiality/privacy of the donor and blood relatives?
The project makes every effort to ensure the confidentiality of the donor and his/her blood relatives. Safeguards include the following:
- Identifying information such as donor’s name, address, date of birth, and medical record number are excluded from the genetic database.
- No researchers using the data or tissues will know the identity of the donor, as the information and tissues will be labeled only with a unique code number.
- Researchers using the genetic dataand/or tissues must agree to never try to discover the identity of the donor.
What safeguards are in place for individuals and families in the event of re-identification?
In the unlikely event of a breach of confidentiality where a donor’s genetic data become identifiable, individuals and families are protected against discrimination by employers or health insurance companies through the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). Again, the chances of this occurring are very low and the protections described above are meant to avoid this scenario. Information donor families choose to share information publicly could increase the risk of re-identification.
Can someone make a profit off the tissue and genetic information from this donation?
For-profit companies will be allowed to apply to use the tissue and genetic database. For example, a pharmaceutical company could use the tissue or data to help discover a new drug to treat heart disease. Families who donate will not receive any money from cures or treatments developed using dGTEx donations. For-profit companies will undergo the same approval process as academic or government labs and will sign an agreement to protect privacy and confidentiality.
What if I change my mind about the donation?
You can change your mind and withdraw the tissues and medical information at any time by contacting National Disease Research Interchange (NDRI). Any tissue in the biobank will be destroyed; health information and genetic information will be removed from the Database. However, samples/information that is already part of a study cannot be recalled.
If the researchers identify a potential disease or disorder using the donated tissues, will the family be notified?
No. Donor families will not receive any information regarding what the Biobank learns about the donor’s health. The Biobank is not organized in a way to provide testing results about diseases. First, the disease testing is not the same as a diagnostic test your doctor would perform. Second, the researchers conducting the testing won’t know the identity of the family who donated, so there would be no way for the family to be contacted.
C. FAQs about the U-SPEAK study
What is the dGTEx sub-study being led by Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital?
This sub-study is called U-SPEAK (UnderStanding Parental Expectations Attitudes and Knowledge Regarding Pediatric Tissue Donation for Research). The study is trying to learn what parents think about donating children’s tissue for genetic research after their child’s passing.
What will be involved in the U-SPEAK study if I participate?
Parents who choose to be in this study may be asked to participate in a one-time focus group with other parents. The focus group will be an online video chat, like through Zoom, and will include discussion of topics related to tissue donation. The focus group will take about 1.5 hours. Parents may also be asked to participate in online surveys regarding topics related to tissue donation.
Can I change my mind about participating in the U-SPEAK study?
Yes. The Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital study team will contact you sometime in the future to provide more details regarding participation in the U-SPEAK study and obtain your consent to participate. You will have the opportunity then to ask additional questions regarding the study. Checking yes on this form allows us to provide your contact details to the study team and is not a commitment to participate.
Do I have to participate in the U-SPEAK study to donate tissue for dGTEx?
No. Participation in the U-SPEAK study is voluntary and is not required to donate tissue for dGTEx. Additionally, donating tissue for dGTEx is not required to participate in the U-SPEAK study.
Who do I contact about the U-SPEAK study?
Please contact NDRI at 800-222-NDRI (6374) for more information about the U-SPEAK study.