What does it mean to participate in Cantabria Cohort?

Participation in Cantabria Cohort is completely voluntary, consensual and altruistic, without any economic retribution.

Participants were randomly selected from adults aged between 40 and 70 residing in Cantabria. Through their participation, volunteers contribute to the advancement of science and medicine for the benefit of society. In addition, applications from participants who were not initially selected were also accepted.

Share data

Data related to health, education, employment, and lifestyle habits, among others, are collected from official records (medical records, Social Security, etc.) as well as from interviews and questionnaires, once the participant has been included in the study by signing the informed consent form. To enable long-term follow-up, volunteers will be contacted periodically to update their data and collect new information on any changes in their health.

Donate samples

Routine laboratory tests are performed on the blood sample, and another portion is stored in the Valdecilla Biobank for future research studies. Participants may also donate to the Biobank any surplus or remaining tissue samples obtained for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes that are held in the repositories of the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital.

Complete questionnaires

Participants are asked to complete questionnaires in online format to collect socioeconomic data (education level, income, housing information, etc.), lifestyle habits (food consumption, physical activity, sleep patterns, etc.), and personal and family medical history. In the months following the visit, we send other types of questionnaires, such as a survey on medical conditions and cognitive assessment tests.

How did we recruit participants?

What are these data and samples used for?

Participants’ data and samples are used in biomedical research projects with the aim of advancing Personalized Medicine. Anyone interested can consult at any time the scientific activity of Cantabria Cohort on our website.

The processing, communication, and sharing of all participants’ personal data comply with the applicable regulations:

At all times, the following are adhered to:

The principles of Good Clinical Practice
The international conventions on the protection of individuals in clinical research ( Declaration of Helsinki and subsequent updates)
The Ley 14/2007, de 3 de julio, de Investigación biomédica
The Real Decreto 1716/2011, de 18 de noviembre , establishing the basic requirements for the authorisation and operation of biobanks for biomedical research purposes and for the processing of biological samples of human origin, and regulating the operation and organisation of the national register of biobanks for biomedical research

This protocol is approved by the Cantabria Research Ethics Committee for Medicines (CEIm), which serves as the reference CEIm.
Participants are informed verbally and in writing about the nature of the study and sign an Informed Consent to participate. This consent can be given in writing or through the SCS app.