How the Biobank Works

How it works

There are three steps to participation in the Mass General Brigham Biobank. Please keep in mind that taking part in this research study is completely your choice. Your decision to join this study will not affect your ability to get clinical care in any way. By joining, you can help us better understand diseases that affect you as well as future generations

Provide consent

To join the Mass General Brigham Biobank, you will first need to read and agree to the consent form. You can do that by clicking on the button below. It will take you to a Patient Gateway page where you will be asked to enter your username and password. Logging in through Patient Gateway allows us to authenticate you so you can sign the consent form electronically.

If you prefer, you can also contact us at 617-525-6700 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) or biobank@mgb.org to schedule a time to meet with one of our Research Coordinators at Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, McLean Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, or Spaulding Rehabilitation in Charlestown.

Log in and view consent form

Complete the health information survey

After providing consent, you will be presented with an option to complete a survey. The Health Information Survey is a short questionnaire that should take about 15 to 20 minutes. The survey provides researchers with information that will help them understand how lifestyle, environment and family history contribute to disease. You may skip any questions you do not want to answer. Your responses will not change your medical care in any way.

For example, the questionnaire will ask you about:

• Whether you smoke cigarettes or how much you exercise
• The environment in which you live and work (for example, your exposure to the sun and what type of job you have)
• Your sleep habits
• Your family history (for example, whether your parents have diabetes or cancer)

Contribute a blood sample

When you provide your consent to join the Mass General Brigham Biobank, you agree to provide a blood sample linked to your electronic medical record. You won’t need to schedule a special visit to provide a blood sample. We may collect blood samples from you while you are having blood drawn for clinical care at Mass General Brigham hospitals or clinics. We may also use what is left over from your clinical blood draw. In the future we may collect a second blood sample from you, again at the same time as a clinical blood draw.

Curious to learn more? Visit our Biobank frequently asked questions page.