How it works
The MAGES team will be visiting your school to deliver a science workshop. With your consent, we will take a spit sample from your child.
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School visits
Our researchers will visit your child’s school to deliver an assembly to explain MAGES and invite all children in Years 7 and 8 to participate.
Following this, we will return to your child’s school at a later date to run DNA science workshops with all Year 7 and 8 pupils. Pupils will learn about genes and DNA and get involved in interactive experiments and activities. During the workshop we will invite pupils with parental consent to give a spit sample.
Your child’s participation in this study is completely voluntary. It is up to you and your child to decide whether they would like to take part.
Giving a sample
Only children who have decided to give DNA and who have parental permission will be asked to provide a spit sample. Children will be given their own saliva collection kit which is easy to use and only takes a few minutes to complete.
The collection of the sample will not involve any discomfort for your child and will only take a short amount of time. Your child will be asked not to eat or drink anything for 30 minutes before giving the sample as this can affect the quality of the DNA in the saliva. They may be a little thirsty, and so we will provide each child with a drink of water after they give their sample.
The DNA in the spit samples will be stored and analysed at the Cardiff University genetics labs.
The study will securely and anonymously link genetic information from this sample to information about your child’s health and wellbeing. This includes information collected routinely in schools and your child’s health and education records.
Taking part
If you would like your child to take part, you will need to complete and return a consent form by freepost. Consent forms will be sent to all parents in participating schools. To obtain a consent form please get in touch:
MAGES Team
More information
More information about the study can be found on our information sheet for parents and young people.
Participant information sheet - parents
This information sheet will help you to decide whether to give permission for your child to take part in MAGES.
If this document cannot be read by your assistive software, you can request an accessible version by emailing web@cardiff.ac.uk. Please include the assistive tools you use and the format you require.
Participant information sheet - young people
This information sheet will help young people to decide whether to take part in the MAGES research.
If this document cannot be read by your assistive software, you can request an accessible version by emailing web@cardiff.ac.uk. Please include the assistive tools you use and the format you require.
Sign up to give consent for your child to take part in the Mental Wellbeing in Adolescence: Genes and Environment Study (MAGES).
