Frequently asked questions

Getting started

  • Signing up takes just 5 minutes:

    1. Click ‘Sign up’ in the top menu to get started.

    2. Create your account with basic information.

    3. Connect your health data (optional).

    4. Start getting matched to research opportunities.

  • No! Joining is completely free. You’ll never pay anything. Instead, we pay you for participating in research studies.

  • To get started, you’ll need:

    1. Basic demographic information (age, location, etc.)

    2. Email address for notifications.

    3. More detailed health history for better study matching (optional but helpful).

  • Many participants get their first study match within days of signing up. You also have the ability to view all of our open studies and request enrollment yourself.

Participation & compensation

  • Compensation varies by study type:

    •  Up to $250 for biospecimen studies (blood, urine, tissue samples)

    •  Up to $50 for survey-based studies

    •  $100 average per participation

    • Additional bonuses for referring friends

    The more you participate, the more you can earn!

  • You’ll receive payment via a rewards platform (where you can choose from thousands of gift cards) typically within a few days after completing a study. Payment timing may vary slightly by study type, but you’ll always know the compensation and timeline upfront.

  • We offer diverse research opportunities across:

    • Biospecimen collection (blood, saliva, urine, stool, skin samples)

    • Survey and questionnaire studies

    • Medical record sharing studies

    • Patient insight interviews and focus groups

    • Wearable device studies

    All studies are clearly described before you choose to participate.


  • Most studies take an average of 15 minutes of your time. Biospecimen studies involve a quick home visit from a licensed clinician. Surveys can be completed online whenever convenient for you. You’ll always know the time commitment before agreeing to participate.

  • Absolutely! You have 100% control. You’ll receive notifications about studies that match your profile, and you decide which ones interest you. No pressure, no obligations—participate only when and how you want.

Privacy & safety

  • Yes. Your privacy and security are our top priorities:

    • We encrypt and de-identify all data before it is used in research.

    • We comply with HIPAA privacy and security standards.

    • We give you full control over what data you share and with whom.

    • We ensure that no researcher ever sees your personal identifying information.

    • We employ regular security audits and compliance reviews to maintain the highest standards.

    You can also delete your data at any time. Learn more here!

  • Researchers receive only de-identified data. They never see your name, address, or other personal identifying information. You remain anonymous in all research studies.

    We act as a secure intermediary, protecting your identity while enabling your contribution to science.

  • Absolutely. DNA Simple (now Joined Bio) is a trusted, established platform dedicated to connecting people with real research opportunities.

    • Featured on Shark Tank and recognized by Forbes — public recognition of our credibility and innovation.

    • 100,000+ participants — real people who’ve signed up, shared their information, and become part of our research community.

    • Licensed, certified clinicians — every specimen collection is handled by trained professionals.

    • HIPAA-compliant and fully regulated — your privacy and data security are protected by strict standards.

    • Transparent processes and payments — clear communication and guaranteed compensation.

    • Now part of Joined Bio — strengthening our oversight, technology, and research capabilities.

    You can feel confident that your participation is safe, private, and meaningful.

  • Biospecimens are securely transported to certified laboratories for the specific research study you agreed to participate in. Samples are:

    •  Used only for the study purpose you approved

    •  De-identified to protect your privacy

    •  Handled according to strict laboratory standards

    •  Never sold or used for unapproved purposes

The research process

    1. Share your health data

    2. Tell us what types of studies you're interested in using your profile settings.

    3. We'll match you to studies and notify you about relevant opportunities. You can also view our open studies at any time.

    4. You review study details and decide whether to participate.

    5. If you request enrollment, we coordinate everything from there.

  • If you agree to a biospecimen study requiring collection:

    1. We schedule a convenient time for you.

    2. A licensed clinician comes to your home.

    3. They collect the required sample (blood draw, swab, etc.) The process typically takes 10 minutes or less

    4. Your sample is securely transported to the research lab.

    5. You receive your compensation.

  • We’re expanding coverage nationwide, but availability depends on your location and the specific study. Most studies can be done from anywhere in the United States.

  • You can stop participating at any time, for any reason, with no penalty. You can:

    •  Decline individual study invitations

    •  Pause notifications temporarily

    •  Withdraw from active studies

    • Delete your health data

    •  Delete your account entirely

    Your participation is always voluntary and on your terms.

  • No! Unlike clinical trials, our research studies are observational. You continue your current treatment plan exactly as prescribed by your doctor. We’re studying real-world health experiences, not testing experimental treatments.

  • No. Your participation in research studies through our platform does not affect your health insurance coverage, rates, or eligibility in any way. This information is completely separate from your insurance.

  • That’s exactly what makes you valuable to research! Rare disease patients are especially needed for medical research. We actively seek participants across all conditions, including rare and ultra-rare diseases. Your unique health journey could be the key to breakthrough discoveries.

  • Yes! Healthy participants are essential for research as control groups and for studying normal biological processes. We have many studies specifically seeking healthy donors.


  • We support research across all major therapeutic areas:

    •  Autoimmune conditions

    •  Cardiology

    •  Dermatology

    •  Infectious diseases

    •  Mental health

    •  Metabolic disorders

    •  Neurology

    •  Oncology

    •  Rare diseases

    •  Respiratory conditions

    •  Women’s health

     And more!

  • Here are the key differences:

    Clinical trials:

    •  Test experimental treatments

    •  Require you to change your current treatment

    •  Often require frequent site visits

    •  Long-term commitment (months to years)

    •  Strict protocol requirements

    •  May involve placebos or unknown treatments

    Our research studies:

    •  Observational (no experimental treatments)

    • Continue your current care unchanged

    • Participate from home

    • Short time commitment (average 10 minutes)

    • Flexible participation

    • You know exactly what’s involved upfront

    • Both are valuable to medical science, but our platform offers a low-risk, convenient way

    • To contribute without disrupting your life or health care.

Medical & health questions

  • Your participation directly contributes to medical research breakthroughs:

    •  Helps researchers understand diseases better

    •  Contributes to development of new treatments

    •  Advances personalized medicine

    •  Could benefit you, your loved ones, and others with similar conditions

    •  Accelerates the path from research to real-world treatments

  • Absolutely! We encourage referrals and offer bonuses when people you refer sign up and participate. It’s a great way to help your community contribute to research while earning additional compensation.

Impact & community

  • Great news! DNAsimple has joined forces with Joined Bio to offer you even better opportunities. We’re still the same team with the same mission—connecting people like you to meaningful research—but now with enhanced capabilities, higher compensation(up to $250 per study!), and more diverse research opportunities. Dr. Olivier Noel, DNAsimple’s CEO, personally chose this partnership to better serve participants like you.

  • If you’re a new user, you’ll create one account on the Joined Bio platform. If you’re an existing DNAsimple participant, your basic account information has been transferred and you can login to the Joined Bio platform with your existing credentials.

  • Think of it as DNAsimple 2.0. You get everything you loved about DNAsimple, plus:

    • Higher pay (up to $250 vs. $50 per study)

    • More study types (blood, urine, medical records, not just saliva)

    • Licensed clinicians who come to your home

    • Broader range of research opportunities across all therapeutic areas

  • Dr. Olivier Noel, who founded DNAsimple and appeared on Shark Tank, personally selected Joined Bio because they share our values of putting participants first. All the trust and credibility you knew with DNAsimple (patient-first philosophy) continues—and is enhanced with even stronger privacy protections and ethics oversight.

About the partnership

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