Fernald Community Cohort -18 Year Observational Study

The Fernald Community Cohort consists of the 9782 persons who were enrolled in the Fernald Medical Monitoring Program (FMMP) (1990-2008). The initial comprehensive examination conducted as part of the Fernald Medical Monitoring Program (FMMP) began in the autumn of 1990. The FMMP provided 9,782 initial examinations and 42,775 re-examinations. An extensive computerized database and biospecimen repository was created to provide research resources for future studies. All questionnaire, examination and diagnostic procedure data collected from the FMMP were \[coded by certified medical record coders,\] double entered with verification into a SAS database on site of the examinations. Cryo-preserved blood and urine samples were collected at enrollment and at various intervals throughout follow-up. At the first examination three 1-ml aliquots of whole blood, plasma, serum, urine and urine with buffer were obtained from each participant (15 aliquots per person) for future analyses. Additional whole blood and serum was obtained in 1996-1997 and 2006-2008. Specimens have been stored in -80 degree freezers; over 160,000 biospecimens are in the archive. Since 1994, the FCC has had an established procedure for sharing data and biospecimens with qualified researchers. Both the policy and application forms can be found at www.eh.uc.edu/fmmp/research.