The Tomorrow Project is asking St. Albertans to participate in the largest research project even undertaken in Alberta – a study aimed at increasing knowledge about what causes cancer.
“What we’re trying to figure out is why some people get cancer and some people don’t,” says study centre coordinator Kelly Murdoch.
The study is looking for Albertans between 35 and 69 who have never had cancer. Representatives will be at the St. Albert Inn and Suites Tuesday, July 30 through Thursday, August 1 signing up volunteers to join in the study.
Participation is by appointment that can be booked online at www.in4tomorrow.ca or by calling 1-877-919-9292. Spots are available from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Murdoch says appointments last about 45 minutes.
“We’ll take their blood pressure and a bunch of physical measurements like grip strength, body fat percentage, height, weight, things like that. We’ll also ask them to give us a blood sample and a urine sample,” Murdoch says. “If they’re uncomfortable with blood, we’ll take a saliva sample instead.”
The study has recruited 33,000 Albertans so far with the goal of reaching 50,000. Alberta is one of the provinces participating in the nationwide study that aims to collect information from 300,000 Canadians.
“In Alberta one in four Albertans will get cancer, and one in two will die,” Murdoch says. “So the main goal of the Tomorrow Project is to figure out why so many people are getting cancer. And the long-term goal is to try to prevent it so that number goes down.”
The study will track participants for 50 years, or until age 85, whichever comes first. After the initial data collection, subjects will receive a survey every three to five years that Murdoch says should take only 30 to 40 minutes to complete.
Murdoch says the project is governed by Albert Health Services and all of their confidentiality rules.
“Participants are tracked by an eight-digit number so their data is never attached to their name in our database,” says Murdoch “It’s only stored by a number.”
Murdoch says in addition to visiting the study centre in St. Albert, volunteers can still participate in the study.
“If they are unavailable to come to the study centre, we do have an option to participate by mail. So even if they’re on vacation or not going to be around next week, we still encourage them to sign up.”
Murdoch says there are still appointments left for those who want to help by participating in the study.
“This is our fourth time back to St. Albert,” she says. “And we’ve had a great response every time.”
