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Frequently Asked Questions

How can I access inventory information about DNA Repository specimens for human genetic research?

Inventory available at the Vanderbilt DNA Repository can be found by selecting among the choices in the 'Select Below for Additional Summaries...' drop down either the 'Unique Participants with DNA Specimens by Study' or the 'DNA Amounts for Unique Participants with DNA Specimens'. If you need additional help with finding the specimens that meet your criteria, contact Frontier Science using the contact form on this page.

How can I access specimen inventory summaries for ongoing, active ACTG or IMPAACT studies?

This website only displays information for completed studies. Investigators with a Frontier Science ePortal account and appropriate access can use the Specimen Inventory Report Utility (SIRU) to search data for ongoing studies.

How do I obtain specimens from the repositories?

To obtain specimens from the repositories, you must submit a research proposal to the network that collected the specimens. This proposal will be reviewed by the network. If the proposal is approved, the network will work with you to help you obtain the specimens that you need. Learn more about submitting a proposal »

Can I submit a research proposal directly from this website?

This website is for gathering information about the types of specimens available at the repositories only. Research proposals are submitted and handled through a separate mechanism by the network that collected the specimens. Learn more about submitting a proposal »

I've already submitted a proposal for specimens. Who can I contact about it?

Individual projects handle the proposal process. For ACTG proposals, contact ACTGProposals@s-3.com; for IMPAACT proposals, contact impaact.capsubmissions@fstrf.org; for HVTN proposals, contact vtn.research@hvtn.org.

I searched for specimens a few weeks ago, then searched again and got different results. How is that possible?

Specimens are added to the repositories as studies conclude, and are shipped from the repositories when they are requested by investigators. As a result, the number of available specimens can change over time.

I'm having trouble using the search tool to find the exact type of specimens I need.

We can help you refine your search to get the most out of the search tool. If you need to search for specimens based on complex logic not available with the search tool, we may be able to create a custom-built specimen list. Contact Frontier Science using the contact form on this page.

Can I search for specimens from participants who had clinical or laboratory data changes over the course of a study?

Complex searches that deal with clinical or laboratory data that changes over time are not possible using the search tool. An example of such a search would be finding specimens from participants whose HIV viral load decreased over the course of treatment. Contact us for assistance generating specimen lists for such inquiries.