DARTS (Diabetes Audit and Research in Tayside Scotland) was started in 1996, and aimed to identify all patients with diabetes within the wider Tayside region, through electronic record linkage, in order to improve health care over and above that which was practical through existing general practice lists alone.

In 1998, consenting patients within this electronic database were recruited to the Genetics of DARTS (GoDARTS) study and invited to provide a blood sample for DNA extraction, for research purposes. At the same time, they were invited to provide phenotypic data (clinical and lifestyle factors), through questionnaires and clinical examination.

This resource was intended to help identify the relative contribution of specific genetic and environmental factors that are associated with disease onset, progression and response to treatment.