College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Vermont Older Adult Research Registry

Welcome to the Vermont Older Adult Research Registry!

What is the purpose of the Vermont Older Adult Research Registry?

A research registry is a list of individuals who want to participate in research studies. The goal of the Vermont Older Adult Research Registry is to create a way to quickly recruit adults 50+ for research projects through the University of Vermont and partner organizations such as the University of Vermont Medical Center. The registry makes it easy for mid-life and older adults to connect with and support research on topics relevant to people age 50 and older. The registry is a confidential list developed and maintained by the University of Vermont in collaboration with the University of Vermont Center on Aging.

What do I have to do to join?

Those interested in becoming a participant of the registry will fill out a brief questionnaire and provide contact information so that we may reach out regarding new projects and research studies to join. The questionnaire includes questions about health or medical conditions you may have as well as your interests. The information you give us will help us to match you to studies that may be of interest.

There is no cost to join.

What happens after I join the Vermont Older Adult Research Registry?

Joining the registry does not mean you have to participate in any study or project. If a study interests you, you will have the chance to ask questions and get all of the details regarding the study before you participate.

Participating in the registry does not guarantee that you will be contacted for research; however, our goal is to match willing participants with studies for which they may be eligible to participate.

What if I no longer want to be part of the Vermont Older Adult Research Registry?

Participation in the registry is voluntary. You may withdraw your consent to participate in the registry at any time. To withdraw, contact Nancy Gell at the University of Vermont at nancy.gell@med.uvm.edu or 802-656-9265.

Why Join?

You might join a research registry for one or more of the following reasons:

You want to help others
You enjoy volunteering
You want to contribute to research and help to create knowledge about aging

As a registry participant, you may be asked to contribute to research and projects that aim to improve the quality of life and care for older adults in Vermont and beyond. Joining can give you an opportunity to share your thoughts and experiences. In addition, many research studies offer compensation to participants in the form of stipends, gift cards or other goods.

Eligibility Criteria

You have to be at least 50 years old
Have an interest in taking part in research
Be willing to complete a questionnaire to join, and at least once a year update your information.

How will my information be handled?

The information you provide will be kept on file at the University of Vermont in a secure, password protected database. Only specially designated research staff will have access to this information. When you join the registry, you have the option to choose how you want to be contacted about potential research studies. The information you provide will be kept on file until you request that it be removed. If we have not made contact with you within four years, your file will be removed from the registry. We will not sell your information or share with third parties. Registry information will only be shared with researchers who have approval for human subject recruitment under the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Information for Researchers

If you would like to recruit study participants via the registry, please contact Nancy Gell, Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science at the University of Vermont, at nancy.gell@med.uvm.edu or 802-656-9265. You will need to provide your study recruitment materials, a summary of your project and a description of the study sample you are recruiting or study inclusion criteria, and documentation of IRB approval from a DHHS Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) registered IRB.