Universal Consent
The Universal Consent was developed by the UCLA CTSI’s Embedded Clinical Research and Innovation Unit (ECRI) to ensure that all UCLA Health patients have an opportunity to tell us whether they want blood from leftover lab tests used for research. It is important for patients to let us know how they want their de-identified (no identifying information) biological samples (blood, saliva, skin, leftover specimens) and clinical data used for a variety of research purposes. UCLA is also using the Universal Consent as the primary recruitment engine for the UCLA ATLAS Community Health Initiative. Before signing the consent, our participants view a short video outlining the goal of the initiative and document their choice.
You can be a part of this exciting research effort by allowing UCLA to use some of your left-over biological samples (blood, saliva) from some of your lab tests. In some cases when you have an IV placed, we may ask whether we can collect an extra tube of blood or saliva. Together, these will provide researchers with the information they need to advance science and the field of precision medicine. As part of this process you will have an opportunity to also opt-in to receive results from future genetic testing.
The results that are returned are only those that could impact your care and for which there are treatments available (actionable).
Research can take months or even years to make discoveries that can impact your care. The Institute for Precision Health will be returning results back from their UCLA ATLAS Community Health Initiative over the next several years. If we find something and you wanted us to let you know, we will have a genetic counselor reach out to you to discuss this further. The researchers will not know who you are so our Honest Broker will work with the genetic counselor to reach out to you.
Participating is a one-time, fast, free, and safe process! UCLA Patients who have not already completed the Universal Consent may receive a participation link on their mobile device when notified of their upcoming appointment. You may also receive an invitation to complete the process on your MyUCLAHealth Portal prior to an upcoming visit. In addition, patients who visit any of our participating locations can complete the Universal Consent on an iPad offered upon check-in.
We have translated the universal video consent into the following languages to ensure that all patients understand the propose of the consent: Spanish, Farsi, Arabic, Mandarin, and Korean. Your DNA may be the key to unlocking answers and breakthroughs for you and other patients like you. If you have questions, please take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions or contact ECRI at [email protected] or 310-794-0981.
Participate in the UCLA ATLAS Community Health Initiative. Watch our Universal Consent Video below and participate here!
Watch Video in English
Don’t forget to complete the consent for biological samples on the iPad before you leave the office at any of our participating locations or when you receive the text at your next appointment reminder.
Please complete the consent and let UCLA Health know ('yes or no') if you would like to share your biological samples to advance science and medicine.
You will need your medical record number to complete the consent.
Thank you!
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Quotation
“UCLA has the people power required to manipulate complex data. We know how to deal with large datasets relevant to health care and are training the next generation through graduate programs in bioinformatics and genomic research. Physicians used to make decisions based on 5 or 6 data points, but now our goal is to help them make them based on 1000s. We have the infrastructure and workforce to do that.”
Steven M. Dubinett, MD
Interim Dean, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, UCLA