How to Participate
Benefits of Participation
Together, we can build a healthier tomorrow.
You are eligible to participate if you:
Your health status, nationality, or background does not limit your ability to contribute to this vital research.
How to Participate
The purpose of the Abu Dhabi Biobank is to collect biological samples from a representative sample of the population in Abu Dhabi to establish a valuable biomedical research resource that supports diverse health-related, clinical, and pharmaceutical research to promote health and wellness in Abu Dhabi and internationally.
There is no upper limit on the number of participants that can be recruited. The Biobank can store up to five million samples, with the potential for further expansion if required.
Only approved researchers from academic institutions, industry partners, government organizations, and charities in the UAE and globally can access the Biobank’s resources. Access is strictly regulated to ensure it’s used solely for advancing human health.
The ADBB will be the custodian of your data and samples and will strictly control who has access to them. Your data shall be de-identified and researchers will only have access to the de-identified data, ensuring personal information (e.g. name, contact details, etc), remains confidential and cannot be used to identify individuals.
The biobank will access, store, and continually link health-related records and metadata from various sources:
The Biobank will continue to collect information from your health records as long as it exists, potentially for decades. If you remain part of the program, information will be linked and collected throughout your lifetime and, even after your incapacity or death.
The Biobank is not intended for clinical diagnostic purposes. Results are for research only, not for diagnosing or treating diseases and may take several years to determine any findings. The findings will not be shared with you, or your doctor, or added to your medical records, to the full extent allowed by law.
You will not receive any financial compensation for participating. Participation is entirely voluntary, with the primary aim of advancing medical research.
If you participate, you’ll sign an Informed Consent Form and complete two phases. In the Pilot Phase, we collect biological samples and health data to refine our processes. Phase 1 involves providing biological samples (blood, urine, saliva, or leftover medical samples), undergoing physical measurements (e.g., blood pressure, height, weight), and completing questionnaires on diet, lifestyle, and cognitive function.
Samples will be collected by trained medical staff following standard operating procedures to ensure safety and quality, across partnering hospitals.
The risks are minimal. Blood sample collection may cause slight discomfort or bruising, while other samples (e.g., urine or saliva) have no physical risks. Physical measurements are conducted privately and respectfully. There is also a minute theoretical risk of unauthorized access to your electronically stored data; however, robust security measures ensure this is highly unlikely.
Yes, the ADBB welcomes participants with all health conditions. As long as you sign the voluntary Informed Consent Form—either independently or with the help of a witness or legal guardian—you can participate. W encourage individuals with both physical and mental health conditions to join, ensuring a diverse and representative sample for future health research.
Yes, we may contact you for research invitations, program updates, feedback, additional questionnaires, or sample requests to enhance the Biobank’s resources.
Yes, you can withdraw at any time without penalty or the need to provide a reason. Withdrawal will not affect your healthcare There are two withdrawal options:
Note: Your data may still be part of research completed before your withdrawal, as we cannot remove it from studies already underway.
