| What
is the Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium?
The Type
1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium (T1DGC) is a group
of diabetes researchers from around the world who
have come together to collect information and study
blood samples from families with type 1 diabetes.
What
is T1DGC trying to do?
Researchers
are trying to discover how differences in the genes
that we inherit from our parents contribute to the
risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Genes are the
“blueprints” in our bodies that we get
from our parents – they decide the color of
our hair, our eyes, and if we will be tall or short.
Some genes are involved in whether we will develop
certain diseases, like type 1 diabetes.
Learning
more about the genes that cause type 1 diabetes may
help researchers discover how to prevent the disease
from developing.
Who
can participate?
Families
in which there are at least two siblings (brothers
and/or sisters) who were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
prior to the age of 35 can participate. The people
with diabetes, their parents and other brothers and
sisters are eligible to participate.
The “minimum”
family is the two siblings with type 1 diabetes and
one parent; the “ideal” family is the
two siblings with type 1 diabetes, both parents, and
one or more other siblings who do not have type 1
diabetes.
What
happens when you participate?
You and
your family members answer questions about family
health and the history of type 1 diabetes in your family. An appointment is made to
collect a small sample of blood from the family members. Occasionally,
you may be contacted if additional information is
needed. There is
no cost to your family to participate, and reimbursement
for time and effort is available.
What
happens with the blood samples?
Blood samples
are sent to laboratories where research scientists
would study the genes in the blood cells. If you give
your permission, blood samples are stored for future
research.
What
next?
If your
family decides to participate, you will receive more
information about T1DGC, and an appointment will be
scheduled.
For
more information, call Annie Abraham, Recruitment
Coordinator, at (800) 749-7424, dial 1, and ask the
operator for 334-1358, or e-mail Annie
Abraham.
Type
1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium is sponsored by
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Human Genome Research Institute
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
|
