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SDS-GPS

The Global Patient Survey and Collaboration Program
to Make Your Voice Count

man and child looking at a mobile phone to access SDS-GPS Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Global Patient Survey

SDS-GPS is an Opportunity for You to Accelerate Therapy Development


The Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Global Patient Survey and Collaboration Program (SDS-GPS) is an opportunity for patients and their families - from anywhere in the world - to share their experience living with SDS via a safe, secure, and convenient online platform, with the goal of

  • expanding the understanding of SDS

  • improving the lives of people with SDS, and

  • accelerating the development of new therapies and cures for SDS.

 

By joining, participants will receive early access to relevant information about new clinical trials and other research opportunities (such as clinical registries) based on their profile, accelerating research and increasing clinical trial design and recruitment success.

Joining is Quick & Easy

​All you need:

  • 30-60 minutes of your time (you can take breaks)

  • The patient's genetics report (if available)

  • A computer or mobile device with internet

 

Join Us to Make an Impact

  • Be the first to know about clinical trials and research opportunities relevant to you, based on your profile, mutation, symptoms, and demographics

  • Drive research by expanding the knowledge about SDS and informing clinical trials needs and designs

  • Become an integral part of a global community that cares

 

Your experience - whether it falls in the mild or severe end of the spectrum - matters. Your voice counts.

SDS-GPS logo with tagline Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Global Patient Survey and Collaboration Program by the Alliance
person looking at a tablet to access SDS-GPS Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Global Patient Survey

We strive to make this opportunity available to all patients/families by making it accessible from anywhere, anytime. We are excited to share that the SDS-GPS platform and surveys are now available in 5 languagesEnglish, Spanish, French, Italian, and German. 

We are looking to add more languages as funding allows.  ​

SDS-GPS logo globe element on dark background
  • English

  • Espanol (Spanish)

  • Francais (French)

  • Italiano (Italian)

  • Deutsch (German)

child with SDS smiling in hospital setting Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Alliance decorative network frame

What aspects of my story can I share through SDS-GPS?


Surveys on the SDS-GPS Program Platform are designed to be quick and easy, without the need to have to look up any details from medical records. You can save your progress and come back anytime.


Survey topics include:

  • Socio-demographics

  • Medical history and diagnostics

  • Treatment and disease progression

  • Management of and access to care

  • Quality of life


Additional aspects of life with SDS - your human story - are extremely valuable as well, and we are looking to help you share those through other SDS Alliance programs. For example, check out our resource page on patient stories.

​How can my story help drive therapies and cures?

Your story helps paint a more complete picture of what SDS is and how it impacts the people living with it. Your participation helps build a strong, engaged community, which is critical to drive progress. Without patients and their families, research cannot advance.


We (the SDS-GPS team at the SDS Alliance) use your de-identified aggregate survey responses and other data you share to develop a deeper understanding of the unmet needs of the community. We use the insights to

  • Prioritize research, educational resources, and community programming

  • Promote data and knowledge sharing via collaborations, publications, conference presentations, and other communication channels

  • Provide you with information about relevant research opportunities (such as the SDS Registry and other natural history studies), clinical trials, educational resources, and community support connections.

Young man with SDS smiling in hospital setting Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Alliance decorative network frame

How does SDS-GPS work?

 

  • Sign up for a free SDS-GPS account (hosted by Matrix) in 4 easy steps and tell us a little bit about yourself or your loved one. Enrolling and participating takes little time, and you can come back later to update your information.

  • Answer surveys from the comfort of your home at any time that works for you.

  • Privacy and security are protected to the highest standard.

  • Move research forward without any clinic visits or virtual appointments. With your consent, we publish and share de-identified data (your survey responses) with approved researchers to support research to benefit the
    SDS community. The information you provide through easy surveys is structured and coded behind the scenes, to be usable for high-quality, impactful research.

  • Keep track of your or your loved one’s medical appointments, medications, and symptoms via your SDS-GPS account, and have all the information at your fingertips whenever and wherever you need it. 

  • You can share any information you like with your care team. You retain full control over access.

person looking at a tablet to access SDS-GPS Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Global Patient Survey

Patients, Parents, Caregivers:
Join in 4 simple steps!

Screen 1 SDS-GPS  Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Global Patient Survey and Collaboration Program by the Alliance

Step 1:

Create an account

Request access to create an SDS-GPS account on the Matrix platform.

 

You will be asked to confirm your email address and create a secure password.

Frequently Asked Questions:
How is my information used and protected?

Who will be able to view my information? 

In addition to the SDS-GPS team as part of the SDS Alliance, the following are groups with whom your Program team may share your de-identified data and samples to support research and therapy development. All these entities will have oversight committees (such as an IRB) that will supervise the ethical use of the data and samples and protect the participants. • Health authorities throughout the world (e.g., U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), and other governing bodies that review clinical trials). • Institutional Review Boards (IRB) that oversee and review the ethics of the research. • The program sponsor (SDS Alliance) and those working for or with the sponsor, which may include affiliates of the sponsor located in your country or other countries. • Other groups: Examples of which include academic, government, or industry researchers; public-private partnerships; and/or external research collaborations. • Programs and platforms to facilitate the sharing of de-identified data and combining multiple datasets, such as the Rare Disease Cures Accelerator-Data and Analytics Platform (RDCA-DAP), European Rare Disease Registry Infrastructure (ERDRI), or Terra by the Broad Institute.

Is my information secure? 

The SDS-GPS Program data will be stored on secure servers located in the United States of America (U.S.). Data entry may be performed anywhere in the world via web interface.  For persons living outside the U.S. who choose to share information about themselves, the same protections for privacy and confidentiality are offered as in the U.S. Privacy laws in other countries, such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), may have different protections than those provided in the U.S. Participants’ data may be transferred to the U.S. (e.g. to servers physically located in the U.S.).  • Participants’ privacy and confidentiality will be safeguarded by using modern database management techniques and informed consent.  As part of consent, participants will have the ability to state whether future re-contact is acceptable. SDS-GPS Program staff may contact participants to clarify data entry.   • Confidentiality will be protected by limiting access to data and keeping Protected Health Information (PHI) password protected on a secure server.  "Protected Health Information" or PHI is a term used for health-related information that can specifically identify a patient, for example, their name, date-of-birth, and place of birth, etc. Privacy and confidentiality risks will be minimized by the following means: • Access to PHI in the database will be limited to as few SDS-GPS Program team members as possible.  • All team members with access to PHI will have to go through CITI or similar training on how to protect PHI.  • Participants will be assigned a unique patient identification number or will be asked to provide a research ID they may have received from a third party (such as the Clinical Research ID (CRID)). Any data that is shared will be labeled with this unique identifier instead of participants’ PHI, such as their name, picture or any other identifying information. • PHI and other data are kept safe using the highest encryption standard available and protected via password-protected and encryption security measures.

Do I have to participate in this program? If I choose to participate, can I change my mind and withdraw later?

Participation in the SDS-GPS Program is voluntary. Participants are free to withdraw at any time, for any reason. To withdraw, they will need to contact the SDS-GPS Program team by email at GPS@SDSAlliance.org. Refusing to participate will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which one is otherwise entitled. Participants have the right to ask that we delete their personal information. If we still have their personal identifiers (PHI), we will delete them to the extent possible and unlink their data from any information that could identify them. De-identified information no longer connected to PHI cannot be identified and won’t be deleted. De-identified information that has already been shared with researchers or groups cannot be retrieved or removed.

Who will information from the Program be shared with, and how?

Identified Data: Identified data, including PHI, is protected and won’t be shared outside the SDS-GPS Program. "Protected Health Information" or PHI is a term used for health-related information that can specifically identify a patient, for example, their name, date-of-birth, and place of birth, etc. De-identified data: For de-identified data (i.e. data that is no longer linked to a specific person), there are several types of data access and dissemination options. • Aggregate Data. Such information may include the number of participants, the prevalence of individual common diagnoses, demographic information, and percent willingness to be re-contacted for future research.  • De-identified, Patient-level Data. De-identified data is available for researchers to use in statistical analysis for pre-clinical explorations, publications, presentations, grant preparations, and more. Researchers can apply for access via an application form. All applications will be reviewed by the Data Access Committee. • Support in identifying and recruiting patients for clinical trials and other research studies. Requests will be reviewed by the Data Access Committee. IRB approved recruitment material will be distributed by the SDS-GPS Program team. No patient list will be shared with third parties. • Investigators wanting to use the SDS-GPS Program data need to apply to the Data Access Committee. The Committee is composed of the Program Principal Investigator, patient representative, and members with scientific, medical, legal and/or ethical expertise. It ensures that the request for data use aligns with the purposes of the Program and its policy.   The application requires providing the following information through an online form or by email to the Program team at GPS@SDSAlliance.org: • Principal Investigator (Name, contact information, and CV) • Aims and hypotheses of the proposed research • Where and how the research will be performed • How the research will be funded • How the results will be published and/or shared, and  • What type of data access is requested A data transfer agreement will be distributed ahead of the data, specifying the agreed-upon scope of research to be performed and specifying that no attempt may be made to identify the SDS-GPS Program participants.

Can my doctor or medical professionals view my information? 

Participants have the option to access and share their own data in the SDS-GPS Program Platform. Physician access to the platform may be available in the future, upon written permission of the participant.

What is the SDS-GPS Program?

What is the purpose of the SDS-GPS Program? 

The SDS-GPS Program stands for Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Global Patient Survey and Collaboration Program. It was created in 2023 by the Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Alliance, Inc. - a patient-centric research-focused nonprofit research organization based in the US, serving the global SDS community - in order to enable and accelerate the development of therapies and cures for Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome (SDS) and related disorders and to optimize patient care.

How will SDS-GPS contribute to research?

The purpose of the SDS-GPS Program is to enable and accelerate therapy development and disease understanding by • Collecting standardized data through validated surveys, medical records, and other means, in a consistent way and from as many individuals as possible. This is essential for (ultra-)rare diseases like SDS to enable progress. The Program is aimed at enabling the development of patient-reported outcome measures (PROs) and real-world evidence (RWE) through the collection and analysis of real-world data (RWD).  • Incorporating the patient voice into all aspects of the research and therapy development continuum. One important tool to capture the patients’ voice and to support the development of patient-centric priorities is the use of surveys to assess the needs of the SDS and related disorder communities. • Making data available to any researcher who wants to better understand SDS, related disorders, community needs, and work toward improved care and novel therapies. We want as many scientists as possible around the world working on SDS and related disorders toward therapies and cures. • Developing a database of people who may be interested in participating in future studies, including clinical trials, with all the necessary information about them already in place. We encourage all patients to consider participating in any registry or study available to them.  • Driving collaborations between all stakeholders, including patients, registries, researchers, clinicians, and regulators. We are leading the way by building collaboration opportunities and data sharing frameworks into all our programs.

Who can join SDS-GPS?

The Program is open to patients of all ages who have a confirmed diagnosis of the below, using established diagnostic guidelines, plus their parents/caregivers.  • Patients with a confirmed Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome (SDS) diagnosis, including a genetic or clinical diagnosis.  The initial focus will be on patients with a genetic diagnosis of SDS based on biallelic mutations in SBDS or EFL1. • Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of an SDS-like syndrome (e.g. due to mutations in DNAJC21, SRP54, or other genes that may be associated with an SDS-like syndrome in the future). • Patients with other heritable hematological malignancy disorders  (such as RUNX1-FPD, Fanconi Anemia) and/or congenital neutropenias  (such as ELANE neutropenia) are also eligible for inclusion.  • Caregivers, parents, and close relatives of all patients above, including of patients alive or deceased.

What are the benefits of joining SDS-GPS? 

There may be no direct benefit to the participants associated with articipation in the SDS-GPS Program. However, by giving approval for your de-identified data and samples to be shared for research purposes, your valuable contributions have the best chance to be used as effectively as possible for research not only today but also in the future as new research questions and technologies emerge. Furthermore, by providing your contact information and agreeing to be re-contacted by the SDS-GPS program, you will be able to receive the most relevant information about your (or the participant’s) disorder, support services and connections, educational resources, information about relevant clinical trials, and access tools to store and manage their own health records and information.

Are there any risks to participating in the Program? Could it cause me any harm?

Participation in the SDS-GPS Program presents minimal risks to its participants. The risks are related to privacy. There are no risks of physical harm associated with participation in the SDS-GPS Program. Participation in the SDS-GPS Program does involve the potential risks of a breach of confidentiality of medical information and the associated privacy of the participants.

Is the SDS-GPS Program a clinical trial, a registry, or both?

According to the NIH, a patient registry is an organized system that uses observational study methods to collect uniform data (clinical and other) to evaluate specified outcomes for a population defined by a particular disease, condition, or exposure and that serves predetermined scientific, clinical, or policy purpose(s). Studies derived from well-designed and well-performed patient registries can provide a real-world view of clinical practice, patient outcomes, safety, and clinical, comparative, and cost-effectiveness, and can serve a number of evidence-development and decision-making purposes. In this sense, the SDS-GPS Program could be considered a "registry," but it is so much more than that. It gives patients a voice and builds community and collaborations between stakeholder groups (patient, caregiver, researcher, and clinician communities). The main difference between registry studies and clinical studies or clinical trials is that registry studies are observational (passively observing the natural history or normal progression of the disease, untreated or using current standards of care), whereas clinical studies are investigational (investigators are instructed to treat the condition in a certain way, and then outcomes are measured). The SDS-GPS Program is applying to be registered on ClinicalTrails.gov.

What is a registry? And is the SDS-GPS Program a registry?

The SDS-GPS Program could be considered a patient-powered registry, but it is much more than that. In addition to collecting patient data, it is focused on sharing the data, building collaboration, and empowering patients by providing them access to their data and modern tools to manage their data. “Patient registries have been defined as “an organized system that uses observational study methods to collect uniform data (clinical and other) to evaluate specified outcomes for a population defined by a particular disease, condition, or exposure, and that serves a predetermined scientific, clinical, or policy purpose(s).” In brief, a patient registry is a collection—for one or more purposes—of standardized information about a group of patients who share a condition or experience.”

In what languages can I participate?

The SDS-GPS Program platform (hosted by Matrix) is available in several languages, including English, Spanish, German, Italian, and French. Most surveys administered on the platform are also available in several languages. We are striving to add more languages based on the needs of the community and capacity.

Why is patient-reported data so important?

Patient-reported data is crucial for drug development and FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approval for several reasons. Including patient perspectives and experiences in the evaluation process enhances the overall understanding of a drug's effectiveness and safety. • Patient-Centric Focus: Incorporating patient-reported outcomes (PROs) ensures that drug development is centered around patients' experiences and the impact of the condition on their daily lives. This patient-centric focus aligns with the goal of developing treatments that genuinely address patients' needs and improve their quality of life. • Measuring Treatment Benefits: Patient-reported data provides direct insight into the benefits of a treatment from the patient's perspective. This information is particularly valuable in assessing the drug's impact on symptoms, functioning, and overall well-being, which may not be fully captured by traditional clinical measures alone. • Endpoint Selection: Patient-reported outcomes can help inform the selection of meaningful and relevant endpoints for clinical trials. By including endpoints that matter to patients, researchers can design studies that better reflect the real-world impact of a drug, making the results more applicable to patients' experiences. • Clinical Trial Design and Recruitment: Patient-reported data is essential in the design of clinical trials, helping researchers determine the appropriate study population, design patient-friendly protocols, and enhance recruitment strategies. This contributes to the overall success and efficiency of clinical trials. • Regulatory Requirements: Regulatory agencies, such as the FDA, increasingly recognize the importance of patient-reported data in evaluating drug safety and efficacy. In many cases, the FDA requires the inclusion of PROs in clinical trial protocols, and positive patient-reported outcomes can support a drug's approval by demonstrating its meaningful impact on patients' lives. • Labeling and Communication: Patient-reported data can influence the content of drug labels, ensuring that important information about the drug's benefits and risks is communicated clearly to healthcare providers and patients. This transparency aids in informed decision-making and appropriate use of the medication. • Post-Marketing Surveillance: Patient-reported data continues to be valuable after a drug is on the market. Monitoring patient experiences and outcomes post-approval helps identify any previously unrecognized side effects, assess long-term benefits, and guide further recommendations for use. • Health Economics and Market Access: Patient-reported outcomes contribute to health economic assessments and market access strategies. Demonstrating the positive impact of a drug on patients' lives can influence reimbursement decisions and market access, making the drug more widely available to those who need it. • In summary, patient-reported data is integral to the drug development process, providing a comprehensive understanding of a drug's benefits and risks. Its inclusion enhances the credibility of clinical trials, regulatory submissions, and post-marketing evaluations, ultimately contributing to improved healthcare decision-making and better outcomes for patients.

Who is sponsoring (paying for) the SDS-GPS Program? Are there any third parties involved? 

The initial design and implementation of the Program, as well as annual maintenance, will be funded by the Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Alliance (“SDS Alliance”) - the Sponsor. In order to maximize the impact of the participant’s data and efforts, we invite and encourage researchers from other organizations and companies to apply for and access certain sets of data. The SDS Alliance may get paid by some of these partners and will use the proceeds to sustain and grow the SDS-GPS Program and other programs to benefit the SDS community.

How can I support the SDS-GPS Program?

Your participation (enrolling in SDS-GPS and filling out surveys) is the most important way to support this program. Additionally, financial support for the SDS Alliance is always impactful, as all its programs are focused on accelerating therapy development and cures, and improving patient care. Turning hope into action, together.

How Can I Participate in the Program?

What will I need to do in order to participate?

Participants will need to follow the following steps to participate in the Program: • Setting up an account on the SDS-GPS Program platform, which can be done by a caregiver or patient. • Adding participants (which can be patients, parents, caregivers, or close relatives) • Providing informed consent (IRB approved) for each participant (online on the Program platform) including options to agree to be re-contacted. • Adding contact and demographic information about each participant(s) • Uploading the genetics report of the participant(s), if available. • Answering surveys (about the participant’s physical and mental health, quality of life measures, the burden of disease, community needs assessment, and other aspects of SDS and related disorders) that are available in the participant’s account on the Program platform. Most of the surveys need to be answered on an annual basis or more, in order to track changes to their experience over time. The Program platform or team may send reminders to update surveys and other information. Participants may also have the opportunity to contribute additional types of data, such as • connecting their electronic health records (EHR), answering interview questions, allowing their healthcare provider to add health information on their behalf, uploading additional test results and lab measurements, connecting metrics from devices, and new technologies yet to be developed.  • data associated with samples for biobanking and research. Sample collection and banking are governed under separate protocols and IRB.

What is Informed Consent?

Informed Consent is a process in which patients and research participants are given important information, including possible risks and benefits, about a medical procedure or treatment, genetic testing, a clinical trial, or studies, registries, and data collection programs. This is to help them decide if they want to participate. Patients are also given any new information that might affect their decision to continue.

Who should provide informed consent on behalf of the participant?

Any individual considered a legal adult (also known as someone over the age of majority) who is diagnosed with Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome (SDS) or related disorders who is able to understand this consent form and wants to participate in this program should consent on their own behalf. • A parent or guardian may enroll a child who is under the age of majority (in many places, under the age 18 years). Please see ascent instructions in the consent form. The SDS-GPS program team will contact each participant who was enrolled as a child, upon reaching the age of majority, explain the purpose of the program, and seek their consent to continue their participation. In other words, individuals for whom their parents provided consent will be asked to provide their own consent when they reach the age of majority. • A Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) may enroll an adult over the age of majority who is unable to consent. • Family members or caregivers of a patient who has passed away can also participate and provide information about the deceased patient. No formal Informed Consent is necessary, but the information presented here may still be helpful for understanding the Program.

What is a genetic report?  Why are you asking for it?

Genetic confirmation of your diagnosis is very important for both optimizing your own healthcare and also for research. Without it, researchers cannot determine whether a specific gene or mutation is responsible for the symptoms you experience. Please upload it to the SDS-GPS Program platform when prompted. As with all personal information, it will be protected with utmost care. If you have never had genetic testing or are having a hard time accessing testing, please reach out to us at genetics@SDSAlliance.org. We may be able to help you access free genetic testing options or point you to relevant resources or experts. A genetics report, also known as a genetic test report or genetic analysis report, is a document that provides information about an individual's genetic makeup based on the results of genetic testing. Genetic testing involves the analysis of an individual's DNA to identify variations or mutations in specific genes associated with certain traits, conditions, or susceptibilities. Genetic reports typically include: • Personal Information: Name, date of birth, and other relevant demographic details of the individual undergoing genetic testing. • Test Information: Details about the specific genetic test or tests conducted, including the methodologies used and the genes or regions of the genome analyzed. • Genetic Variants: Identification of specific genetic variants found during the testing process. These variants may include single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), insertions, deletions, or other genetic alterations. • Interpretation of Results: Explanation of the significance of the identified genetic variants. This section may classify variants as normal, pathogenic (associated with a disease or condition), or of uncertain significance. • Genetic Conditions or Traits: Information about any genetic conditions, predispositions, or traits associated with the identified variants. This may include details about the risk of developing certain diseases, carrier status for genetic disorders, or information about drug response and metabolism. • Risk Assessment: If applicable, an assessment of the individual's risk for developing specific diseases or conditions based on the identified genetic variants. • Clinical Implications: Recommendations or implications for medical management, surveillance, or preventive measures based on the genetic findings. • Inheritance Patterns: Information on how the identified genetic variants may be inherited and whether they follow an autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, or other inheritance pattern. • Limitations of the Test: Discussion of the limitations of the genetic test, including potential false-positive or false-negative results, and the scope of conditions covered by the test. • Genetic Counseling Recommendations: Guidance on the importance of genetic counseling and recommendations for further discussions with a genetics professional to fully understand the implications of the genetic test results. It's crucial to note that genetic testing should be carried out under the supervision of healthcare professionals, and the interpretation of results often requires expertise in genetics. Genetic reports are valuable tools that can inform medical decision-making, risk assessment, and personalized healthcare planning based on an individual's genetic profile.

What if I don’t have a genetics report?

If you have received genetic testing for SDS and/or related disorders but don’t have access to a copy, please check with your healthcare provider or testing company on how to access it. We may be able to help with the process of obtaining a copy on your behalf with specific paperwork. Please contact us at genetics@SDSAlliance.org  for assistance. If you don’t have access to genetic testing, we may be able to assist! We can connect you to experienced doctors and no-cost testing options almost anywhere in the world. We can also provide information on testing strategies and interpretation to your physician or connect them with local experts. Please contact us at GPS@SDSAlliance.org  for assistance.

Can I learn more about my genetics when I upload my report?

Before you upload your genetics report, you will have the option to indicate whether you would like us to inform you if new information becomes available about the genes and variants described in your report. As we learn more about genetic changes, our understanding of their relationship to health might change. For example, the classification of Variants of Unknown Significance (VUS) may change over time, or new genes may be discovered that could explain symptoms or disorders. Some updates may impact your medical care, while others may not. Such updates are rare, so most participants will not receive updates. It is not possible for us to identify all updates related to participants’ genetic test results. Answering “Yes” means that you may be contacted by our team if we learn about potential updates to your/the participant’s genetic test results. Our email would direct you back to your doctor or a healthcare provider in your area to discuss possible updates in more detail, as our team is not able to provide medical care. Please contact us at genetics@SDSAlliance.org for assistance.

Will I be able to view or change my responses after completing a survey? 

Yes! The system will keep track of changes in order to comply with data collection standards. Additionally, most of the surveys need to be answered on an annual basis or more, in order to track changes to participants’ experience over time. The Program platform or team may send reminders to update surveys and other information.

Is it really FREE?
Is there any cost associated with participation?

The SDS-GPS Program platform (application) is FREE to use for participants, as the cost is covered by the SDS Alliance (sponsor). However, the application utilizes the participant’s cell phone, tablet, or computer, and will utilize their data/internet connection. The application will send notifications and reminders. There may be fees for text messages and data usage as per your plan with your cell phone or internet provider. To facilitate participation by underserved communities, the SDS Alliance may occasionally offer financial assistance to overcome such barriers.

Do you provide any incentive for participation?

Participants will not be paid for their data. Occasionally, we may offer participants a gift card or other small compensation for their time and effort involved in participation, such as completing certain surveys. If compensation is available, we will tell them the details prior to the start of the activity. The use of data may result in commercial profit, such as a product, material, or process. Participants will not share in any commercial value or profit derived from the use of their data nor will they have special access to any products or therapies created.

Will survey results be shared back with me? 

Yes. We will share results in many different ways. • You can always access your own surveys and answers, and print or share as you wish. • Participants will also be able to see how their survey answers compare to other participants for certain questions, once sufficient participants have filled out the surveys. This is a built-in feature of the Program platform. • To promote the use of the SDS-GPS Program and data, aggregate, de-identified data will be collated at least annually and made available to the public through various means, such as the SDA Alliance or Progam website, newsletter, email or mail, conferences, webinars, social media, or publications. Such information may include data in aggregate of a group of participants, instead of patient-level data, such as the number of participants, the prevalence of individual common diagnoses, demographic information, and level of engagement.

How can the SDS-GPS platform help me manage my health information?

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How can the SDS-GPS platform help me manage my health information?
  • Use it as a personal health monitoring tool

  • Utilize tools and features that make managing daily care easier

  • Share health information easily with others

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Symptoms and Activities Tracker
  • Track symptoms and activities on the platform, including energy levels, pain, illnesses, medication or diet changes, doctor or therapy appointments, and more!

  • Use an existing favorites list or create your own symptoms and activities list to track those that are meaningful and important to you

  • Graphs can be created with multiple activities and symptoms to look for patterns and possible correlations

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Medications Tracker
  • Log medications, dosages, and refill dates

  • Text and email notifications for medication administration and refill reminders

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Important Document Storage and Organization
  • Upload your documents for easy organization and access - medical records, IEP’s, evaluations, medication lists, physician contact lists, guardianship, etc.

  • Documents can be shared as PDF files with healthcare providers, other caregivers, and anyone you'd like to have them

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Journal
  • Keep notes and written narratives of important information such as changes in eating or sleep, unusual behaviors, parent-teacher interactions, or any other things you want to remember

  • Keep a list of questions for the next doctor's appointment

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Resource Center
  • Find important documents, forms, and information from the SDS Alliance and other peer-reviewed guidelines and resources to help with your Program participation or make day-to-day life and care easier

  • Find announcements and details about clinical trial opportunities

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Sharing Center
  • Download and share any information you've entered into Matrix (your own personal health data) with anyone you'd like, such as your healthcare providers, school nurses, care providers, etc...

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Message Center
  • Two-way communication with the SDS Alliance related to the SDS-GPS Program

  • A safe, secure, and private way to share information and questions

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