Low-Dose UV Project

All participants will have to:

• Complete an online questionnaire about their demographics, ancestry, and skin type.
• Visit QIMR Berghofer two days in a row (Monday and Tuesday).
• Lie on their stomach while two small circles of skin on their lower back (each with an area less than 1 cm2) are exposed to a low dose of ultraviolet (UV) radiation (similar to natural sunlight).
• Have three skin biopsies taken by a doctor throughout the study. Each biopsy will be 2 mm diameter and will be taken under local anaesthetic. No stitches will be required.

The first visit will take approximately 1.5 hours. The second visit will take approximately 30 minutes.

We would like to hear from you if you:

• Are aged between 18 and 55 years;
• Have fair to light/moderate brown skin;
• Have at least 50% East Asian ancestry*;
• Have no personal history of skin cancer;
• Have no personal history of severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis);
• Are not taking any blood thinning medications; or medications which may cause you to be sensitive to light, or which reduce inflammation and healing.
• Have no history of allergy or adverse reactions to local anaesthetic or any related drug.

Participants must have at least 50% ancestry from one (or more) of the following countries/regions:

Region

East Asia:

• China
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• Korea
• Macao
• Mongolia
• Taiwan
• Tibet

Mainland Southeast Asia:

• Cambodia
• Laos
• Myanmar (Burma)
• Thailand
• Vietnam

Maritime Southeast Asia:

• Brunei
• Indonesia
• Java
• Madura
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Timor-Leste

We will compensate you for your time with up to $250 (in e-gift cards) upon completion of all study procedures.

A $100 e-gift card will be provided for each session completed at QIMR Berghofer, plus a $50 bonus e-gift card for completing both sessions. All e-gift cards will be provided after your last clinic visit.

Biopsies

There are minimal risks associated with taking part in this project. When you have a skin biopsy taken there is a small risk of infection or bleeding. If you are taking any medications which might stop your blood clotting, we will not enrol you in the study. You need to tell us if you start taking a new medication part way through the study.

Low-dose ultraviolet (UV) radiation

You will be exposed to a small amount of UV radiation on the skin of your back (similar to the dose you would often obtain during normal daily activity).

The dose of UV exposure will not be strong enough to cause a burn or any redness on your skin. You will not be able to feel the UV exposure. The risk of it causing any long-term harm is very low. It is the type of dose that you could easily receive as you go about your everyday life, and with only one dose this will be insignificant compared with your lifetime exposure.

The project is being led by a team of researchers at QIMR Berghofer, including Professor Rachel Neale and Professor David Whiteman.

Please email Low.Dose.UV@qimrb.edu.au to register your interest.