Virginia Commonwealth University wants 1,000 freshmen to participate in ‘Spit for Science’ study

Spit For SciencePhoto byVCU Screenshot

According to WRIC 8 News, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) researchers are looking for more than 1,000 incoming freshmen to participate in its “Spit for Science” study.

About the 'Spit for Science' study

More than 13,000 VCU students have participated in the “Spit for Science” study since it began in 2011. It is the largest genetic and environmental study of American college students. It has contributed data to hundreds of projects and studies ranging in subjects from substance use to traumatic stress.

Karen G. Chartier, Ph.D., Spit for Science director of VCU’s Institute for Research on Behavioral and Emotional Health, said:

“By making this data readily available, it feeds our undergraduate research programs, supports the interests of many VCU faculty and connects us with researchers across the country and the world. Studies of psychiatric conditions require very large samples, and our data is contributing a litany of studies combining data from many different sources.”

Kelsey Hagan, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry in VCU’s School of Medicine, said that one of the reasons the data being collected by VCU is so important is the diversity of the people the data comes from.

VCU freshmen will receive an email inviting them to participate in the study. Participants will receive $20 for providing an optional DNA sample and $20 compensation for completing the survey.

More information on Spit for Science can be found here.