If you would like to participate in the VERDI Study, please complete this short form. Our study team will be in touch after you have completed the form.

Participating in the VERDI Study

Our tool, the Video Education with Result Dependent disclosure (VERDI) model, is being used more often as a convenient alternative to genetic counseling sessions before genetic testing. Genetic counseling sessions can take more time, may have to be set up far in advance, and can be hard to reschedule in the event of timing conflicts or illness.

Please join the VERDI Study to help us improve this video education tool. With your help, we hope to find ways to better inform people about genetic testing and to increase access to genetic testing among diverse populations who are at risk for inherited cancers.

As part of the study, VERDI Study participants will either view the video or meet with a genetic counselor. If a participant then decides they want to proceed with genetic testing, they would give a blood and saliva sample.

Who can join the VERDI Study?

You may be eligible to join our study if:

  • You are over 18 years old.
  • You have a current or prior diagnosis of any of the following cancers:
    • Breast
    • Ovarian
    • Pancreatic
    • Prostate
    • Colorectal
    • Renal (kidney)
    • Melanoma
    • Sarcoma
  • You haven’t had genetic testing or genetic counseling before.

If you have any questions about your eligibility for this study, please contact our study team.

What is involved in the VERDI Study?

Participating in the VERDI Study means you’ll be asked to do some or all of the following:

  • Talk to our study team—we’ll reach out using the information you give on the contact form.
  • Sign a consent form.
  • Fill out a questionnaire about your personal and family history; then respond to a short follow-up questionnaire each year.
  • Share a copy of your medical records related to any cancers you have had. All records will be kept confidential.
  • If you decide to have genetic testing, give a blood and saliva sample. (We’ll arrange for the collection at your convenience.) This sample may be shared with other researchers who are approved to use this material.
  • Consent to be contacted about other optional studies as part of this research.

Join us

If you are interested in joining the VERDI Study, please fill out this form to get started, and our study team will get in touch with you.

If you have any questions or would like to speak to a member of our study team before joining, you can contact us at any of our study sites:

Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ)/Rutgers
195 Little Albany St, Rm 1135
New Brunswick, NJ, 08901
Contact person: Brianna Jeffreys
bam219@cinj.rutgers.edu

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute – Longwood Medical Area
450 Brookline Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
617-632-4795
Contact person: Alison Slack
VERDIstudy@dfci.harvard.edu

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute – Merrimack Valley
5 Branch St.
Methuen, MA 01844
978-620-2020
Contact person: Maurice Brule
MauriceN_Brule@ dfci.harvard.edu

Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center – Foxborough
22 Patriot Pl
Foxborough, MA 02035
857-491-7187
Contact person: Nicole Houghton
nicole_houghton@dfci.harvard.edu

Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center at Milford Regional Medical Center
20 Prospect St
Milford, MA 01757
774-448-3720
Contact person: Michelle Kosinski
michelle_kosinski@dfci.harvard.edu

Dana-Farber/New Hampshire Oncology-Hematology
40 Buttrick Rd
Londonderry, NH 03053
Contact person: Lindsey Ginter
lindseyk_ginter@dfci.harvard.edu

Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center at South Shore Health
101 Columbian St
South Weymouth, MA 02190
781-624-4795
Contact person: Norah Fleming
norah_fleming@dfci.harvard.edu