A registry is a collection of information about individuals, usually focused around a specific diagnosis or condition. Many registries collect information about people who have a specific disease or condition, while others seek participants of varying health status who may be willing to participate in research about a particular disease. Individuals provide information about themselves to these registries on a voluntary basis. Registries can be sponsored by a government agency, nonprofit organization, health care facility, or private company. It’s always good to check first to know who sponsors the registry – or – look for information on a registry’s site to know about their sponsor(s).

Registries can provide health care professionals and researchers with first-hand information about people with certain conditions, both individually and as a group, and over time, to increase our understanding of that condition. Some registries collect information that can be used to track trends about the number of people with diseases, treatments, and more. Other registries invite people to sign up to be contacted about participating in clinical research. These ask very basic questions about health history that would help determine whether someone is possibly eligible to join a research study.

Government agencies have strict privacy requirements set by law such as the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). If registries have followed all of these rules, the likelihood of identifiable personal information being shared is very small.

Participation in a registry is likely to increase what we know about a specific condition, help health care professionals improve treatment, and allow researchers to design better studies on a particular condition, including development and testing of new treatments. Being part of a clinical trials registry can help people interested in participating in research connect with clinical investigators. However, individuals (and their families) who choose to participate in a registry should understand that participation will not guarantee a treatment or cure for their condition or that they will be eligible to join a study.

Usually, a federally-funded registry has a very limited list of individuals (registry coordinator) who may have access to participants’ personal, identifying information. Those individuals must be specially trained and certified regarding information security requirements.

The data collected in a disease registry is stripped of personal information. It belongs to the sponsor of the registry, and depending on how the registry is set up, may be shared with the participants and their families, and approved health care professionals and researchers. However, personal, identifying information is kept private. Usually, a registry has a governing committee that makes decisions about how the data can be used or shared

Yes. Registries are free and voluntary; there is no penalty for choosing to withdraw at any point.

For any questions about participation or any issues that may arise, registries provide a contact, usually the registry coordinator.

Registries focused on specific diseases or conditions collect information voluntarily from people with those conditions. Clinical trials registries collect basic health information from people who agree to be contacted about participating in future clinical trials or studies.

A clinical trial is the study of new ways to prevent, detect or treat diseases or conditions. Volunteering for a registry does not mean a person has signed up for a clinical trial. Participation in a disease registry can sometimes become a first step toward participation in a clinical trial, but registries and specific trials are not directly linked.