Study Design of the Personalized Medicine Research Project

The Personalized Medicine Research Project (PMRP) was developed as a large population-based biobank with DNA, plasma, and serum samples to facilitate genomics research. Participant enrollment began on September 18, 2002 and is ongoing. Initial recruitment was targeted to persons aged 18 years and older that resided in one of 19 zip codes around Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA, and who had at least one family member that received health care at the Marshfield Clinic in the previous 3 years. The 19-zip code area is known as the Marshfield Epidemiologic Study Area (MESA), a geographic region in which most residents receive medical care at the Marshfield Clinic, its regional centers, and affiliated hospitals. PMRP recruitment efforts have since expanded to include persons who live outside the 19-zip code area but receive medical care at facilities associated with the Marshfield Clinic. Because of the sharing of electronic medical records among these facilities, inpatient and outpatient diagnoses and procedures are able to be captured. As a result, electronic medical record data on PMRP participants are available for identification of diagnoses, prescribed medications, and medical procedures.

Further information on the study design of the PMRP can be obtained from the following references:

McCarty CA, Wilke RA, Giampietro PF, Wesbrook SD, Caldwell MD. Marshfield Clinic Personalized Medicine Research Project (PMRP): design, methods and recruitment for a large population-based biobank. PER MED 2005;2:49-79.

McCarty CA, Mukesh BN, Giampietro PF, Wilke RA. Healthy People 2010 disease prevalence in the Marshfield Clinic Personalized Medicine Research Project cohort: opportunities for public health genomic research. PER MED 2007;4:183-90.

McCarty CA, Peissig PL, Caldwell MD, Wilke RA. The Marshfield Clinic Personalized Medicine Research Project: 2008. Scientific update and lessons learned in the first 6 years. PER MED 2008;5:529-42.

Although initial PMRP recruitment occurred within the 19-zip code area, MESA is a separate research initiative. Further information on MESA can be obtained from the MESA website and the following reference:

De Stefano F, Eaker ED, Broste SK, Nordstrom DL, Peissig PL, Vierkant RA, Konitzer KA, Gruber RL, Layde PM. Epidemiologic research in an integrated regional medical care system: the Marshfield Epidemiologic Study Area. J Clin Epidemiol 1996;49:643-52.
PubMed ID: 8656225