Developmental Research
Blood Draw
Schizophrenia is a mental illness which, through supporting research, has long been known to have a genetic component. However, this genetic component does not follow a simple pattern of inheritance. The genetics of the symptoms that make up schizophrenia are more complex, with multiple genetic factors playing a role. To clarify some of these complexities, we look at particular areas on the genes that seem to have a higher prevalence of “abnormalities” in individuals with schizophrenia and their family members. In the pursuit of these “abnormalities” associated with schizophrenia, we may look at different areas as we gain more knowledge. To accommodate this future research pursuits, we need a means of keeping the cells around so that as new information is uncovered we can go back and look at the DNA again. When we draw blood we “immortalize” some of the components of the blood so that we can go back and amplify the DNA at a later point in time. Along with immortalizing some of the components, we also send some of the information that we obtain from the analysis done to a federally funded repository where this information can be used by scientists all over the world. These repositories provide a great service for researchers as they contain quantities of information that each researcher alone would not have the resources or time to collect. The repository gives the researcher a larger sample size and access to comparison group samples that researchers would not have if not for the repository. When your information is entered into the repository, it is stripped of all personal identifiable information, meaning that the scientists accessing the information are only given a coded number and not any information that would identify you as an individual.
What to expect when you have your blood drawn:
The blood draw is a standard blood draw, identical to a blood draw that you would receive at your local doctor's office. We use a small gauge needle and draw several tubes of blood from that needle. To minimize the pain for children, we use a numbing cream on the child's arm to temporarily numb the skin.
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