Biomeasures are objective physical and biological measures collected directly from study participants, ranging from physiological assessments such as blood pressure and grip strength to biospecimens like blood, saliva, and hair. Biomeasures enable researchers to study the biological and environmental processes behind health and disease across whole populations.
NORC builds biomeasure collection into surveys of every size, in person, by mail, in the field, and at home. Our teams collect a broad range of physical measures and biospecimens across the lifespan, and from these specimens, laboratories derive biomarkers of health, disease, stress, and exposure. The result is data that pair detailed survey responses with objective indicators of health, supporting deeper research on aging, chronic disease, and population health.
Our Biomeasures Practice
We collect the full range of physical measures and biospecimens and manage every step of the process, from study design through laboratory analysis.
What We Collect
Our team gathers a wide range of physical measures and biospecimens, tailored to each study’s aims.
Physical Functioning, Frailty, Mobility & Strength
Anthropometric & Cardiovascular Measures
Biospecimens
Including saliva, urine, vaginal swabs, hair, microbiome, and blood
Sleep & Activity Patterns
Sensory & Lung Function
How We Work
Proven methods and partnerships keep collection safe, consistent, and affordable at scale.
End-to-end Integration
Minimally invasive physical measures and biospecimen collection, designed and embedded directly into survey protocols.
In-Home Collection by Trained Interviewers
Proven protocols and training that enable non-medical field staff to safely collect measures and specimens, lowering cost and respondent burden.
Remote & Self-Administered Collection
Leaders in mailed and self-collection methods, including blood, saliva, and at-home physical measures.
Laboratory & Phlebotomy Coordination
Management of relationships of external assay laboratories and phlebotomy vendors that keeps studies on schedule.
Lifespan & Population Coverage
Experience collecting biomeasures from infancy through older adulthood in diverse, representative populations, in both longitudinal and standalone studies.
Public Health & Emergency Readiness
Rapid deployment of self-administered biospecimen collection for disease surveillance and public health response.
Featured Projects
Our Experts
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Katie O’Doherty
Principal Research Director -
Kriston Koepp
Senior Research Director -
Sara Walsh
Senior Research Director
