Project FRONTIER
History
Initiated in 2006 as the Cochran County Aging Study, Project FRONTIER (Facing Rural Obstacles to Healthcare Now Through Intervention, Education & Research) is an epidemiological study to explore the natural course of chronic disease development and its impact on longitudinal cognitive, physical, social and interpersonal functioning in a multi-ethnic adult sample from rural communities of West Texas. Information from this study can then be used to develop programs for effective disease management, preservation of cognitive functioning throughout the lifespan and improvement of the overall health of individuals living in rural West Texas. Currently Project FRONTIER is collecting data from Cochran, Bailey, Parmer and Hockley counties. Since its beginning, the data from the Cochran County Aging Study and Project FRONTIER have been analyzed by over eighty researchers affiliated with thirteen different institutions. This has resulted in numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national, regional and university scientific meetings.
What is Project FRONTIER?
PROJECT FRONTIER conducts rural-based research looking at the health conditions of adults and elders living in rural communities in West Texas. Study participants are followed over time to test for changes in physical, mental and cognitive health, and the factors that may influence those changes. There are currently over 2,000 data points collected from each participant, who are recontacted every three years in order to track their changes.
Who can participate?
Any person who is 40 or above and lives in one of the participating counties is eligible to participate. Project FRONTIER is currently running participants in Cochran, Parmer, Bailey and Hockley counties.
What do participants have to do, and what do they get out of it?
The Project FRONTIER protocol consists of 4 parts: medical exam, blood draw, interview
and cognitive testing. The entire protocol takes around 3-4 hours to complete. All
participants receive a reimbursement for their time and are mailed a feedback letter
and copy of their clinical lab results, and have the opportunity to designate a health
care provider to receive the results as well.
Project FRONTIER Data Request Center
The goal of the Project FRONTIER is to support research on dementias and effects of
aging. Project FRONTIER research volunteers participate in a variety of different
assessments. Our data is complex and request criteria varies. To facilitate an investigator’s
request, each of the documents below must be reviewed before submission of a request
form. Failure to review these documents may result in an unnecessarily delayed request.
Project FRONTIER Codebooks:
• Codebooks 2008 - 2015
• Codebooks 2016 - Present
• Variable Names & Questions
• Data Use And Publication Agreement
• Data Resource Request
Ready To Submit A Request?
Before you submit your request, we wish to avoid the situation where two investigators
study the same research question to avoid duplication of effort and potential conflict.
To determine if your topic has already been studied with our resources, please search
our existing data resource requests. If you find that your topic or a related topic
has been submitted, you may wish to contact the investigator to inquire about their
findings to determine how you might proceed.
You may also wish to collaborate or modify your request to avoid overlap.
Click here to request access our data.
Post Data Usage Survey
After permitted access and use of Project FRONTIER Data, please fill out the Post
Data Usage Survey. This will assist in Project FRONTIER's categorization and understanding
of why and how our data supported the requesting investigator's study. Click here to take the survey.
Got Questions?
We're here to help. Contact us if you have questions.