For Participants
I haven’t heard from the study in a while. Am I still enrolled?
You are still enrolled in the study. COSMOS is a long-term project and will continue for many years. We try to avoid contacting participants unnecessarily, but this does not mean we have forgotten about you. We are currently undertaking the next survey in Spring 2026. It is vital that participants continue to take part so that we can continue to monitor possible health effects from use of mobile phones and digital technologies over the long term.
I no longer live in the UK. Can I still take part?
Your data remains valuable to our study – We would still like to continue following your health, and it is helpful for us to keep your information in case you return to the UK in the future. If you have moved, please update your address by emailing us at ukcosmos@imperial.ac.uk.
If your contact information has changed, please let us know by emailing: ukcosmos@imperial.ac.uk
If possible, include your 8-digit Personal ID, which can be found on any recent correspondence from us, such as a survey invitation.
How is my information being kept confidential?
Your privacy and the appropriate use and protection of your data are paramount. Imperial College London will ensure that the research complies fully with current data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
All individually identifiable data (such as name and address) will be dealt with in the strictest confidence. Your individually identifiable data will be separated from health and mobile phone use information to preserve confidentiality. All your data will be stored in a dedicated secure ISO 27001 certified research computing environment at Imperial College.
Will my data be shared with any other researchers?
Data may be shared with researchers of the international COSMOS consortium or with other researchers and research collaborators. However, no individually identifying information (such as names, addresses, phone numbers) will ever be passed onto these research groups.
Do you have any queries about your data?
If you have any queries about your data, please contact:
UK COSMOS Team: ukcosmos@imperial.ac.uk
Data Protection Officer, Imperial College London: dpo@imperial.ac.uk
If you are not satisfied with our response or believe your data is being used unlawfully, you may contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Visit https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us or email: casework@ico.org.uk
Am I able to withdraw from the study?
COSMOS participants have the right to withdraw at any time, without providing a reason. If you are considering withdrawing from the study, please email us at ukcosmos@imperial.ac.uk.
To help us identify your record, please include your full name, date of birth, address, mobile number, and your personal ID (it can be found on any recent correspondence from us, such as a survey invitation).
If you decide to withdraw, you must choose one of the following options concerning future contact and data access:
1) No further contact – this means that COSMOS would no longer contact you directly but would still have your permission to retain and use information provided previously and to obtain and use further information from your health records.
2) No further access – this means that COSMOS would no longer contact you or obtain further information from your health records in the future but would still have your permission to use the information provided previously.
If you do not specify an option when you withdraw, we will apply the no further contact option by default. Please note that we cannot remove data already used in completed analyses.