SPARC was established to help us understand how genes impact our health. By studying genetic and clinical information from large groups of people, we hope to make discoveries that identify health risks and keep our patients healthier longer.

SPARC is currently open to adults 18 and older with a UT Southwestern medical record. You do not need to have a specific disease or health condition to join. Healthy individuals are welcome. People who have received an allogeneic bone marrow transplant are not eligible. If you would like to check your eligibility, please complete our eligibility form.

No. Participants are not paid to take part in SPARC.

No, there are no costs to take part in SPARC. However, SPARC does not reimburse expenses such as parking or travel. If you receive a genetic result and choose to seek follow-up medical care, that care would be billed in the usual way.

We estimate it will take you around 15 minutes to join SPARC online. You will also need to provide a blood sample for genetic testing. In many cases, this can be done as part of your regular care. In the future, the study team may contact you about optional surveys or other research opportunities, such as additional testing or imaging. Your participation in these options is completely voluntary.

Taking part in SPARC will not affect your medical care or employer-provided health benefits. If we find a DNA result that may be important for your health, we will contact you and explain your personal risk factors and connect you with a genetic counselor free of charge. This information will be shared with your UTSW healthcare providers.

SPARC may return certain DNA results that may be important for your health. These results may show that you are at an increased risk of developing certain medical conditions. We expect only a small number of participants (about 3% to 4%) will receive this type of health-related result. If you choose, you may also receive ancestry information.

It may take a few months or even a few years for us to review your DNA. We may be able to return some test results sooner than others. Because SPARC is a large research program, the timing can be different for each participant.

No. SPARC does not provide full DNA sequences. If you choose, you may receive a genetic ancestry report. We will also contact you if we find a DNA result that may be important for your health.

Yes! SPARC is currently open to adults 18 and older with a UT Southwestern medical record. People who have received an allogeneic bone marrow transplant are not eligible. If you would like to check your eligibility, please complete our eligibility form.

Yes, you may still be able to join SPARC even if you have already had genetic testing through another company, research study, or medical test. Genetic tests are designed for specific purposes, so the results you receive from SPARC may not be the same as results from other testing.

A blood specimen will be collected through a blood draw – a common, quick medical procedure in which a healthcare professional uses a needle to collect a small sample of blood from a vein, typically in the arm. In many cases, this can be done at the same time as a blood draw appointment that is already part of your regular care. If needed, the blood draw can also be done during a separate research visit.

After your blood sample is collected, your DNA will be analyzed as part of the SPARC research program. Your DNA information, blood sample, and health information from your medical record will be stored securely for future research. If we find a DNA result that may be important for your health, we will contact you. We may also contact you about optional surveys or other research opportunities.

Yes. SPARC believes that we can transform healthcare through empowering researchers with real-world data. The SPARC database is a resource for qualified researchers at other institutions, including universities, hospitals, and industry partners to fuel their discoveries. Your name and other direct identifiers will be removed before the data is shared, in a process called "de-identification." Outside groups will never receive information about your identity, and our partners must follow strict rules to protect your privacy. Appropriate access and use of the research data is defined by the SPARC Governance Committee.

The federal Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) makes it illegal for health insurance companies, group health plans, and most employers to discriminate against you based on your genetic information. Participating in SPARC will not affect your medical care or employer-provided health benefits.

While GINA protects against discrimination in health insurance and employment, it does not apply to life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance. Some insurance providers may request access to medical information, including genetic information that becomes part of your medical record through participation in SPARC, when making coverage decisions.

No. Taking part in SPARC is completely voluntary. Choosing not to participate will not affect your job at UT Southwestern.

Yes. You can withdraw from SPARC at any time. If you decide to leave the study, your samples will be destroyed and your data will not be used in future research. However, data or samples that have already been used in studies cannot be taken back.

SPARC is funded by UT Southwestern and Regeneron Genetics Center, a for-profit pharmaceutical company. UT Southwestern researchers proposed and designed the study.

Regeneron Genetics Center (RGC) is SPARC's sequencing partner. RGC is a genetics research organization within Regeneron with extensive experience in large-scale DNA sequencing and collaborations with health systems and biobanks. Its work has resulted in many new discoveries, publications, and new treatments for patients. For SPARC, RGC will perform DNA sequencing at no cost.

You can join by clicking here. If you'd like to talk to someone first, please call our research team at 214-648-4390214-648-4390 or email us at SPARC@utsouthwestern.edu.