Environmental Polymorphisms Registry
The Environmental Polymorphisms Registry (EPR) is a long-term research project to enroll up to 20,000 individuals from North Carolina, and collect and store their DNA in a biobank. The DNA samples are available to scientists to study differences in genes (known as polymorphisms) that might be linked to common diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, asthma and others. While many types of genes are studied as part of the EPR, the focus is on a category known as the "environmental response genes." These are genes that may increase the risk of human disease when combined with environmental exposures. Alternatively, "environmental response genes" may also decrease disease risk by conferring a protective effect upon individuals following environmental exposures.
The EPR is unique in that it is a "linked" DNA registry. The DNAs are coded with personal identification numbers (PINs) that are linked back to the registrants' identities and contact information. This gives scientists the ability to ask registrants to participate in a wide variety of voluntary follow-up studies based on their genetic profiles.
For more about the EPR and how we protect our registrant's privacy, click here.
The EPR is sponsored by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and is conducted in collaboration with the University of North Carolina's General Clinical Research Center. The project will help researchers to develop new and better ways of screening populations, assessing health risks, and diagnosing, preventing and treating common diseases.
