St. Albert residents can once again help in finding the causes of cancer.
The Tomorrow Project is a long-term research study looking at the causes and possible prevention of cancer. It is the study’s third time in St. Albert.
Heather Whelan, research manager for the project, said a number of participants will develop cancer over time and the study seeks to compare their information with those who did not develop cancer.
“We can go back and see if there were differences between the two groups ten years before they got cancer, were there any differences in their diet or what type of work they did,” she said.
“And we can look at some genetic information.”
By 2013, researchers hope to enrol 50,000 people in Alberta between 35 and 69 years who never had cancer. So far, almost 30,000 participants have signed up, with 557 from St. Albert.
Whelan said participants will be asked to provide blood and urine samples, answer a number of health and lifestyle questions and have some physical measurements taken.
Once enough data is collected, the project will return to the communities every two to five years to update the information, and later compare it.
The Tomorrow Project will set up a temporary study centre at the St. Albert Inn & Suites from Nov. 6 to 8. Participants are encouraged to pre-book their appointments by visiting www.in4tomorrow.ca or calling 1-877-919-9292.
Those who cannot attend in person may order a collection kit by email or phone to provide the project with a sample of saliva for future DNA studies.
