Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow's Health

A cross-country research study requires volunteers who are willing to help researchers understand the antecedents of cancer.

Atlantic PATH (Partnership for Tomorrow's Health) is part of the largest cancer study of its kind in Canada's history, the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project. In Atlantic Canada alone, it hopes to recruit 30,000 men and women ages 18-69, following their health for upwards of 30 years to gain a better understanding of how our environment, genetic make-up and lifestyle contributes to a risk of cancer. 

“In Atlantic Canada, we are part of a community that is at a huge disadvantage when you look at overall population health. You name it — we’ll have higher rates for many chronic diseases,” says Louise Parker, who holds the Canadian Cancer Society (Nova Scotia) Chair in Population Cancer Research in the Faculty of Medicine.

“It touches us all and so it is important to contribute to our knowledge base,” adds Dr. Parker. 

Volunteers provide information about lifestyle, health and diet. Each volunteer receives a free PATH Pack that enables them to take simple measurements and samples at a time and place that is convenient and private for them.

It’s easy to get involved by filling out the online survey 

Another way to be supportive is to become a community or workplace champion. In partnership with Atlantic PATH, champions help recruit friends, family, neighbours or colleagues. For more details phone 494-7284 in the Halifax area or 1-877-285-7284 toll-free from outside Halifax.

Alumna Sue Douglas (PhD’83) signed up immediately for herself when she learned about Atlantic PATH from an academic seminar. “The goals are admirable,” she says.

Ms. Douglas, a principal research officer at the Institute for Marine Biosciences at the National Research Centre, then decided to become a champion and easily recruited 30 other volunteers.

“Volunteers seemed to find the process straightforward. There was a little joking about the toenails,” she says. “We were reminding everyone that no nail polish was allowed.”

Researchers ensure information that is volunteered is maintained in confidentiality. 

“This is something that everybody can do. This chance isn’t going to come again — a study of this scale and magnitude —it won’t happen again in our lifetime,” says David Thompson, project manager. 

Funding for Atlantic PATH comes from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, an independent agency established by the federal government to foster action on cancer control. For more information, visit http://atlanticpath.ca/