National Psoriasis Victor Henschel BioBank
How to participate

Online registration is now available. Please read through the following information before following the link at the bottom of the page to register.

The National Psoriasis BioBank is seeking samples from individuals who have psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis, and from those who do not. Through an application process, the BioBank team will determine who is qualified to participate. The BioBank is currently open only to residents of the United States. Qualified individuals will then submit a blood sample and swab of cheek cells to the National Psoriasis BioBank, along with medical histories and associated clinical information.

The BioBank is looking for two different groups of individuals to participate:

1. People who have psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis (cases)—other criteria apply

2. People who do not have psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis (controls)—other criteria apply

It is up to you to decide if you want to donate a biological sample to the BioBank. Please also read the frequently asked questions so that you understand what the BioBank is and how your sample will be used if you qualify to participate. It is important that you make an informed decision to participate in this program.

Participants in the BioBank:

• Agree to donate a blood sample and swab of cheek cells.

• Agree to provide information about their medical histories, including their psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, and are willing to share their medical records.

• Are willing to remain in contact with the National Psoriasis BioBank for at least 5 years, to keep their records up to date, and are willing to be re-contacted if additional samples are needed.

How a sample becomes part of the BioBank:

1. Interested individuals complete the BioBank registration form and consent to their participation in the project. The BioBank team then reviews each application.

2. Approved BioBank participants will receive a blood donation kit in the mail. Participants will take this blood kit to their doctor, clinic or blood draw center and have their blood drawn. The kit is then mailed to a private lab and the sample is processed.

3. Participants also complete a questionnaire about their medical history, including their psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. This information is then stored in a database.

4. The National Psoriasis BioBank will follow up with participants on a yearly basis to update their medical histories.

5. Once our collection of 2,000 samples is complete, qualified scientists will be able to use these samples in their research.

We are committed to making your participation in this project as easy as possible. If you have any questions, the BioBank team will be glad to help you in any way. Please contact the BioBank by sending an e-mail to biobank@psoriasis.org or call 800.723.9166.