Joining the BioResource
Everyone has a unique contribution to make to health research. Volunteer today.
Why join us?
By joining the NIHR BioResource, you can play an important role in helping drive health research forward.
Everyone who volunteers contributes to the search for better diagnosis and treatment into a range of common and rare diseases.
Without our volunteers, our research cannot progress.
What happens when you join?
If you decide to join, you will donate a blood or saliva sample and be asked to complete a health and lifestyle questionnaire.
We'll also ask you to fill in a consent form that describes how your data and samples might be used and allows us to match you to specific research studies.
We'll also ask you to grant us access to your medical records, but we will only need these if required for a particular study.
Our Participant Information Sheet and Consent Form provides more detail on the process and requirements when joining the BioResource.
How will you be selected for a study?
Each research study sets its own criteria for its participants. You might be selected based on:
- The variations in your DNA
- Your health and lifestyle information
- Your age, gender and/or ethnicity
Along with the general population, patients with certain common or rare diseases can join specific cohorts for that condition. This allows us to capture specific details related to the patient's health journey.
Working to increase representation from diverse communities
Aiming to address the health inequalities faced by many in the UK, we've partnered with community engagement agency Egality Health and eight community-based organisations on a project to increase representation in health research from diverse ethnic groups by onboarding new volunteers to the BioResource.
The first phase of our collaboration focuses on South Asian and Black communities in England, helping us address the barriers to participation such as a historical lack of engagement from the research sector.
Find out more about this project.
Sign up for the BioResource
Provide a few details today to get started, or if you have questions, email our recruitment team on nbr@bioresource.nihr.ac.uk
How will you be invited to take part?
If you match the research team’s criteria, you will get a letter with all the study information and what you would be required to do, if you choose to take part.
It is entirely your own choice whether to take part!
You are under no obligation and your decision will not affect future invitations.
How many studies could I do?
Our participants can be invited to 8 studies per year with a maximum of 4 of them being face-to-face studies.
Play a vital role in improving medicine
Medical research depends on contributions by people like you. Volunteers who give time, samples and goodwill provide the resources for medical discovery.
Every sample helps fill the picture of how genetics influences disease.
Small act, but a big difference
Just a tablespoon of your blood (or spit!) can help our research partners to uncover the causes of disease. We need large numbers of giving participants to collect enough data to pinpoint the genetic variations that are important for our health.
Accelerate research, accelerate treatment
By contributing, you help us to build smarter data and resources for medical researchers.
Together, we increase the chances of their success. We make their research and clinical trials more efficient and faster.
You can make a difference
Serious illness sparked Michael’s act to help others; Adrian volunteered as a blood donor and was delighted by the studies and the friendliness of the team; Georgina didn’t know you could help even if you didn’t have a condition.
Contribute to rare disease research
Discovering the genes which cause rare diseases allows researchers to improve future diagnoses and care.
Get involved in common disease research
In our common disease research, we focus on specific conditions where we can make a real difference.
