Join the SHARE register

Join the SHARE register

Researchers need your help to develop new treatments for diseases like COVID-19, cancer, diabetes and asthma.

SHARE is the Scottish Health Research Register and Biobank, an initiative of NHS Research Scotland. It is a database of volunteers aged 11 and over who are interested in assisting research for improving health.

Please sign up today to be contacted for future projects. You can also allow researchers to use any leftover blood from routine blood tests for genetic studies. It's easy to sign up or opt out.

To register or find out more please visit www.registerforshare.org

Health research register

The SHARE database holds the details of members of the public who are willing to take part in health research. The research can be as simple as filling in a questionnaire about your diet and exercise regime, or involve a clinical investigation for an illness you may have. Alternatively, if you have no significant health problems you may be invited to take part in research which requires healthy people.

SHARE will let you know about studies which may be relevant to you. If you are interested and want to know more then we pass your details to the research team. You do not have to take part if you don't want to.

Biobank

You can also give your permission to keep any leftover blood following routine clinical testing for use in research.

Every time you give blood for a routine clinical test, a small amount is left in the tube. This leftover blood is normally disposed of but it can be valuable for research. If you have given permission for your leftover blood to be kept, you don't need to do anything else. You do not need to come to the hospital, and no additional blood samples will be needed. Only spare blood that remains in the NHS laboratory after you have had a test requested by your doctor will be stored. These samples will be stored carefully and de-identified so they cannot be directly traced back to you as the donor.

The blood samples will help researchers to understand why some people respond to medications, and others have side-effects. They will also be able to develop new treatments for diseases like COVID-19, diabetes, obesity, cancer, asthma, COPD, eczema or heart disease.

SHARE is currently a quarter of the way to its target of 1,000,000 volunteers in Scotland. Please spread the word to your family and friends.

Last Updated: 23 June 2021