Introduction

You are invited to participate in the establishment of the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank, which aims to collect and link genetic, neuroanatomical, cognitive and clinical information from people with schizophrenia and healthy, non-psychiatric control volunteers to support research into the genetics of schizophrenia.

Join the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank and help us try to stop schizophrenia by taking four easy steps:

1. The Interview

You will be invited to attend a friendly interview with a Clinical Assessment Officer in the affiliated research centre closest to your home. Details of your medical history will be recorded, and some simple tests to assess memory, attention and general functioning will be completed. The Clinical Assessment Officer will also help to arrange the blood collection and brain scan, if appropriate.

2. The Blood Sample

A small blood sample will be taken, from which your DNA profile will be made. Such profies of all participants will provide vital clues to the origins of schizophrenia.

3. The Brain Scan

You will be invited to visit a nearby MRI centre for a brain scan. This interesting process takes about 30 minutes.

4. Volunteering for Future Research

You will be invited to consider the option of being contacted to participate in future schizophrenia research. This is not a mandatory requirement of joining the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank.

Contact us to find out how to get involved.