General
What is the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow's Health (The Atlantic PATH)?
The Atlantic PATH is a long-term research project investigating environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors related to the development of cancer in Atlantic Canada. It is part of a $42-million national study known as the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project, which is funded by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. Other regions participating in the national study are British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.
How is The Atlantic PATH carrying out its investigation?
We are recruiting 30,000 men and women between the ages of 35 and 69 in the four Atlantic provinces. Volunteers are asked questions about lifestyle, health and diet. They provide blood, urine, saliva and toenail samples and have various physical measurements taken. Participants' health will be followed for 30 years through cancer registries, hospitalization records and various other health records.
Why are you going to track participants' health for such a long time?
Cancer takes a long time to develop. By analyzing the samples and other information over a long period, researchers may be able to determine why some people develop particular cancers while others do not. This will help researchers understand how our environment, genetic make-up, and lifestyle contribute to the risk of cancer.
When will results of your research be made public?
The Atlantic PATH project is a long-term research study. Many results relating to the causes, control and prevention of cancer will not be known for many years.
Who is involved in The Atlantic PATH?
We are funded by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, an independent agency established by the federal government to foster action on cancer control. We also have the support of Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Health Protection and Promotion, Cancer Care Nova Scotia and the Canadian Cancer Society.
|
