Research Consent Document

One of the goals of LifeDNA is to help people make the most out of their DNA so they can truly start living healthier and more fulfilling lives, and research is a big component of that.

Here are some of the key points of our Research Consent Document. Before deciding whether or not to join, please read the whole consent document below.

Important Information:

The primary objective of LifeDNA Research is to create new discoveries about genetics and other variables that contribute to health and wellness.
If you agree to this consent document, you are giving LifeDNA researchers permission to use some information (such as your genetic information and replies to research questionnaires) to investigate a wide range of research areas.
LifeDNA conducts research with data that does not contain your name and contact information to ensure your privacy. This is aggregated with similar data from a significant number of research participants.
Certain LifeDNA studies might be made in conjunction with third parties. These include academic institutions, pharmaceutical firms, or non-profit organizations. We may release analyses of research findings with qualified research collaborators and in scientific publications that do not recognize any specific individual.
Even though you are unlikely to benefit directly from your involvement, you and other individuals may benefit in the future from breakthroughs that lead to innovations in healthcare or advancements to LifeDNA’s personalized products or services.
In the event of a privacy breach, there is a very small chance that someone could gain access to your personal information (data that can be used to identify you) without your consent.
Participating in this study is completely optional, and you can change your mind at any time without compromising your access to LifeDNA’s reports and other services.

Why is LifeDNA conducting research?

LifeDNA’s goal is to create and promote scientific discoveries about genetics and personalized wellness. To accomplish so, we pursue our own research while also cooperating and publishing our findings in genetic studies and journals to complement the work of other researchers throughout the world.

Our findings could be utilized to develop novel techniques to improve people’s lives, as well as additional reports and features for the LifeDNA product and services. We look into:

Personal traits and characteristics
People’s response to their genes
Ancestry and its association with certain traits
Lifestyle and personal habits
Disease risks
Diet, sleep, and physical activity.

Simple characteristics like age, weight and physical measures, as well as alcohol intake and smoking behavior, are also discussed.

LifeDNA generates insights by looking for trends in data from a large number of research participants. These patterns could reveal whether people with a specific set of genetic variables are more likely to develop certain traits. Another pattern could indicate a novel approach to treating a condition. Our findings could aid in the development of new medications and personalized treatments. Some of LifeDNA’s findings may aid researchers in better understanding certain diseases and other health conditions and may help in diagnosis and treatment options.

What does taking part in LifeDNA Research entail?

You will be asked to complete surveys or submit information about yourself to the LifeDNA website if you opt to participate in LifeDNA Research. You get to choose which surveys you want to complete, what information you want to contribute, and what questions you want to respond to. Giving consent indicates that you agree to allow LifeDNA researchers to use your Genetic and Self-reported information (including info given before consenting) for LifeDNA Research as mentioned above. The term “Genetic & Self-Reported Information” applies to the following:

Your genetic information
Anything you enter into LifeDNA Research surveys, questionnaires, and other LifeDNA personalized services.
Certain LifeDNA studies may be sponsored by or carried out in partnership with third parties, such as academic institutions, non-profit organizations, pharmaceutical corporations, or, whose added knowledge and/or resources can assist LifeDNA in making significant discoveries.
In the event that the research findings result in valuable items or inventions that may be manufactured or sold, you will not earn any financial rewards if your information contributed to an idea or product that benefited LifeDNA or any of its research colleagues.
When LifeDNA conducts research on sensitive themes, you will be given additional information to help you decide whether or not you wish to participate.
We may notify you of new surveys and research opportunities as they are added to LifeDNA Research. We may send you notifications in your account or email invites to keep you informed about new research possibilities.
We may use the results of further investigation of your saliva sample in LifeDNA Research if you have chosen to have your saliva sample stored in our lab.

How does LifeDNA protect my privacy?

To protect your information, LifeDNA implements a variety of structural, technical, and organizational measures. To ensure the safety of your information, we examine and enhance our privacy and security standards on a regular basis. The following are examples of these practices:

For our rigorous data privacy and security procedures, LifeDNA utilizes globally renowned security standards.
The information used in LifeDNA research analysis has removed your identification details. These include your name, email address, password, address, or credit card. Your contact information may be used to reach you, but it is not combined with your genetic and self-reported data for analysis.
We only publish or disclose information that does not identify any specific individual when we share research results with collaborators.
Employees at LifeDNA are trained on how to deal with research participants, and LifeDNA scientists are given further training on how to perform research ethically and properly.
If your child consents to engage in LifeDNA research and a parent or legal guardian approves LifeDNA to utilize their genetic and self-reported information for the study, your child may participate.

Who will be able to see the information?

Within LifeDNA:

Researchers at LifeDNA will have access to Genetic and Self-Reported Information, but not to your identifying personal information while conducting analyses.

Check out our Privacy Policy for more information on how LifeDNA protects and handles your personal information

Outside of LifeDNA:

LifeDNA isn’t the only place where you can find out about your genetic information. We may release summaries of research findings with qualified research collaborators and in scientific publications.

Whenever we share this data with qualified research collaborators or publish in scientific journals, we will not ask for your consent separately.

To ensure our compliance, we may share information with our ethics review board (commonly known as “IRB” or Institutional Review Board) and other agencies, or as otherwise required by law.

What are the benefits and risks of participating in LifeDNA Research?

Benefits:

Participating in LifeDNA Research will not provide you with any immediate benefits. For example, we will not provide you with individual results from LifeDNA Research about your genetics or health concerns.
You, including those who share your health traits, may, however, benefit indirectly from LifeDNA Research findings in the future, such as those that improve LifeDNA reports, products, and other personalized services or contribute to illness prevention and treatment.
You can learn about LifeDNA’s research findings by answering questionnaires. We may also notify you of the publications to which you’ve contributed and send you frequent research updates.

Risks:

You may feel uneasy about some survey questions or data comparisons.
Although LifeDNA has stringent procedures and practices in place to reduce the risk of a breach, there is a very small chance that your personal information will be compromised.
For example, your Genetic and/or Self-Reported Information could be revealed outside of LifeDNA in the event of a breach.
There could be other potential issues with participation that are currently unknown.

What happens if I change my mind?

Your participation in LifeDNA Research research is entirely optional, and you can opt-out at any time. You can send us an email at [email protected] at any time if you change your mind about participating. If you withdraw your consent, LifeDNA will stop using your genetic and self-reported data in new LifeDNA research after 30 days from the time we receive your request through email.

There are no consequences if you refuse to grant consent or if you choose to withdraw from LifeDNA Research. You will not lose any of the benefits that come with being a LifeDNA user, such as access to your DNA reports and other personalized services you’ve availed.

You can also opt-out by canceling your LifeDNA Account. Please note that account termination requests can be made by sending a request to our Support Team at [email protected]

Your genetic information may still be used for other purposes, such as improving the LifeDNA personalized reports and other services if you choose not to give consent for LifeDNA Research, as outlined in our Privacy Policy.