Is participation voluntary, with informed consent?
Yes. Participation for the family blood study is fully voluntary. Each participant is sent study literature and signs a consent form that explains the study, what is expected if they participate, and what their risks, benefits and rights are. The consent form, as well as general study procedures, have been reviewed and approved by Institutional Review Boards at the Danish Cancer Society, the Finnish Cancer Society and the Westlakes Research Institute. Institutional Review Boards at Vanderbilt University and the MD Anderson Cancer Center have also approved the overall study.
