CHIP Participants FAQ

Contact us at 734-232-4779 or [email protected] with questions about participating in the study.

Who Can Participate?

As of now, we are enrolling any patients with the following diagnoses or demographics: aortic disease, connective tissue disorders, bicuspid aortic valve, and heart failure.

Where Do I Participate?

We enroll patients from various clinics within the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center, as well as by referral. If you would like to participate in our study, but aren’t a patient at the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center, let us know!

What Is Required of a Participant?

You will be asked to complete three tasks: a detailed family history, a few surveys and a one-time blood draw.

What if I don’t know my family history?

That is okay! We collect a variety of information from our patients, and each part helps us reach our goal of understanding cardiovascular disease.

Who has access to my information?

Only the CHIP team has access to all of your information. UM researchers may apply to have access to information, but they must first be approved by the CHIP Access Committee.

What if I am already in a study, can I still participate?

Yes. There are no restrictions for this study regarding participation in other studies.

I had my blood drawn earlier, can you use those samples?

No. Our study requires new samples because they are processed in a different lab at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center.

Tissue was collected during my previous surgery for research, can you use that?

No. Any tissue that was previously assigned for research use is not available to our study.

I’ve been told there isn’t a genetic component to my disease, am I still eligible?

Yes. We are interested in learning about all aspects of cardiovascular disease.

Will I have to set up another appointment to complete the study? How many times will I have to come back?

CHIP is a one-time commitment. Everything can be completed on the day of your clinic visit.

Will my information be shared with other researchers outside of The University of Michigan?

Possibly. Outside researchers have the ability to apply for access to de-identified information, but the decision lies with the CHIP Access Committee.

Can my family members participate too?

Yes. Anyone who fits our eligibility criteria is invited to participate.

Will my insurance be billed for this?

No. We will assume all costs associated with this study. Your insurance will never be billed for your participation.

Can anyone find out whether I’m participating in the study?

It is possible that someone may find out you are part of the study, but we do our best to decrease the risk of this occurring. We de-identify all of your information, use password-encrypted computers, and obey the rules of HIPAA.

Can I be compensated for being in this study?

Unfortunately, no we cannot pay you for participating in our study.

If I withdraw from the study, what happens to the information you already have collected?

We would destroy any biological samples and clinical information we have collected from you, and remove you from our study. Keep in mind that if we can no longer identify your samples or information as coming from you, we cannot undo any research once a study has been started.

Contact Us

Contact us at 734-232-4779 or [email protected] with other questions you may have about participating in the study.