Participants will receive health monitoring for the next five years, as well as collaborating in the development of more effective treatments for the population

Brazil’s gen-t project reached 10,000 participants a year and a half after it began recruiting volunteers for what will be Latin America’s largest gene bank.

In Itatiba (SP), the project takes place in partnership with the city hall, at the Clínica da Família in the Jardim das Nações neighborhood, and already has around a thousand participants. Those who sign up can have various laboratory tests carried out free of charge, such as a complete blood count, cholesterol assessment and diabetes tests, as well as blood pressure measurement, heart rate mapping and analysis of the Body Mass Index (BMI) and abdominal circumference.

Those interested can book an appointment at https://gen-t.science/agendamento/. Collections take place from Monday to Friday, from 7.15am to 9.45am. To take part, you need to be Brazilian, aged 18 or over, be able to read and write and present a photo ID (such as an ID card or driver’s license, for example).

These tests offer a general assessment of the participants’ health, and are important topics for identifying risk factors and detecting diseases. And the best part: test results are ready within 96 hours.

Part of the material collected goes to the “gen-t do Brasil” project, which is mapping the DNA of 200,000 Brazilians to build the largest gene bank in Latin America.

In 2023, the initial year of collection, the project visited cities in the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Amazonas. This year, 2024, it will continue in these locations and is also moving into the Northeast and North regions, with operations in Salvador (BA) and Teresina (PI). It is also scheduled to arrive in the city of Rio de Janeiro (RJ).

“The project’s findings could translate into the development of new, more effective, more specific and more intelligent medicines. And best of all: this isn’t just a benefit for the individual, it’s a benefit for everyone,” says Lygia V. Pereira, CEO of gen-t and Professor of Human Genetics at the University of São Paulo (USP).

Currently, 80% of the genetic material used for research in the world comes from white populations of European origin, which limits the potential for discoveries and the effectiveness of some therapies for other populations. Brazil has great potential to change this scenario, since our people are made up of a mixture of different ethnicities.

How does scheduling and collection work?

By accessing the booking link, the participant selects the day and time they wish to have their blood taken, provides their details and answers a questionnaire about their health and lifestyle habits. When they arrive at the laboratory on the scheduled day, a member of the gen-t team will carry out a clinical examination on the volunteer, taking their blood pressure, heart rate and temperature, as well as checking their weight, height and abdominal circumference.

A blood sample will then be taken for laboratory tests to obtain the DNA. After the analysis, the participant will receive the test results by e-mail and SMS within four days.

Check out the collection point in Itatiba

Location: Family Clinic

Av. Vicente Catalani, 2025 – Jardim das Nações, Itatiba

Appointment website: https://gen-t.science/agendamento/