LifeGene

LifeGene is a prospective cohort study with longitudinal follow-up, the goal of which is to collect and make available data and samples from 250,000 Swedes. The cohort is a national cohort, with the 6 Swedish universities with medical faculties involved in the governance, and Karolinska Institutet as the host organisation. LifeGene participants respond to an extensive, web-based questionnaire covering a wide range of health and health related measures, symptoms, lifestyle and environmental exposures. At a LifeGene test center, participants perform a number of physical tests (anthropometric measures, blood pressure, spirometry, bioimpedance) and provide blood and urine samples. Recruitment is either through postal contact of adults age 18-50 in areas close to LifeGene test centers (thus far in Alingsås, Stockholm, and Umeå), by being invited to participate by a LifeGene participant, or by spontaneous self-registration. Adult participants may invite their children or other household members to participate. Purpose: LifeGene is a prospective cohort study with longitudinal follow-up, the goal of which is to collect and make available data and samples from 250,000 Swedes.