Atlantic PATH – Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

To round up Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, we are highlighting some of the recent and ongoing work on prostate cancer conducted using Atlantic PATH data and biosamples. Flashback to 2023 and welcoming our youngest team member(!) and the Plaid for Dad tradition raising awareness about prostate cancer in Canada. We have ongoing research on prostate cancer exploring environmental exposure to arsenic and cancer risk using toxicological and machine learning methods. This research stream has received and benefitted from funding from Nova Scotia Health, the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Prostate Cancer Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, and the New Frontiers in Research Fund. Watch this space for new findings and publications! Related publications to date include: Majouni, S., Kim, J.S., Sweeney, E., Keltie, E., Abidi, S. (2022). Applying Machine Learning to Arsenic Species and Metallomics Profiles of Toenails to Evaluate Associations of Environmental Arsenic with Incident Cancer Cases. Medical Informatics Europe Conference (MIE) Conference Proceedings. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics. Keltie, E., Hood, K., Cui, Y., Sweeney, E., Ilie, G., Adisesh, A., Dummer, T.J.B., Bharti, V., Kim, J.S. (2022). Arsenic speciation and metallomics profiling of human toenails as a biomarker to assess prostate cancer cases: Atlantic PATH cohort study. Frontiers in Public Health, 10.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9301242/ Hood, K., Sweeney, E., Ilie, G., Keltie, E., Kim, J.S. (2023). Toenail arsenic species and metallome profiles associated with breast, cervical, prostate, and skin cancer prevalence in the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health cohort. Frontiers in Public Health, Environmental Health and Exposome.  https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1148283/full Smith, N., Keltie, E., Sweeney, E., Weerasinghe, S., MacPherson, K., Kim, J.S. (2022). Toenail speciation biomarkers in arsenic-releated disease: a feasibility study for investigating the association between arsenic expsosure and chronic disease. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 232. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651322001099 The Langille Lab at Dalhousie University has an ongoing research stream on the microbiome. This work has included a focus on prostate cancer. Related publications include: Nearing, J., DeClercq, V., Langille, M. (2023). Investigating the Oral Microbiome in Retrospective and Prospective Cases of Prostate, Colon and Breast Cancer. Nature Biofilms and Microbiomes. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41522-023-00391-7. We have also conducted research on the mental health of prostate cancer survivors compared to those with no history of cancer and those with types of cancer. This work was supported by funding from the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute. Publications to date include: Ilie, G., Rutledge, R., Sweeney, E. (2020). Anxiety and depression symptoms in adult males in Atlantic Canada with or without a lifetime history of prostate cancer. Psycho-Oncology. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pon.5244 Ilie, G., Rutledge, R., Sweeney, E. (2021). An examination of the role of socioeconomic status in the relationship between depression and prostate cancer survivorship in a population-based sample of men from Atlantic Canada. Oncology, 99(4). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33486485/ Ilie, G., Rutledge, R., Sweeney, E. (2021). Post-Treatment Adverse Health Correlates among Prostate Cancer Survivors in a Sample of Men Residing in Atlantic Canada. Current Oncology, 28(4). https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/28/4/246 Last Updated on September 26, 2025

CanPath Round Up: Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

What could you uncover with data from over 3,500 participants with prostate cancer? 🤔💭 With close to 3,000 prevalent cases of prostate cancer within our participant population, CanPath remains committed to continuing to support participants and researchers in uncovering new breakthroughs in prostate cancer prevention, detection and treatment. By collecting biological, genetic and health data from our participants, we can keep track of new and existing cases of prostate cancer to provide researchers with access to invaluable health information to support the next generation of cancer research. 🔗 Get inspired by the latest prostate cancer publications using CanPath data: http://bit.ly/46VMeqJ Last Updated on September 26, 2025

Government of Canada invests in research to strengthen pandemic preparedness and response

Read how CanPath, Canada’s largest health research study is ready to respond News release September 23, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Institutes of Health Research “As we begin respiratory infectious diseases season, the Government of Canada is investing in critical research infrastructure to ensure that public health and immunization programs are as effective as they can be in protecting the health of Canadians and that Canada is ready for future pandemics and public health emergencies. Today, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced an investment of nearly $20 million through the CIHR Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies and partners to support seven research platforms that unite researchers from all across the country to maintain Canada’s pandemic readiness, improve surveillance systems, and support evidence-based decision-making. These platforms will strengthen Canada’s capacity to detect, monitor, and respond to emerging infectious diseases, while addressing the social, behavioural, and health system challenges that arise during pandemics and other health emergencies. Broadly, the research teams will: These investments support the Government of Canada’s ongoing efforts to strengthen pandemic preparedness and protect the health of Canadians and the international community.” Quotes “The COVID-19 pandemic taught us the importance of being ready for the unexpected. These research investments will strengthen innovative science and collaboration across the country—helping Canada be better equipped to respond quickly and effectively to future public health emergencies.” —The Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health “These initiatives reflect the best of Canadian research, with a focus on real-world impact. Our scientists continue to provide the important evidence and maintain the research infrastructure that all Canadians rely on to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future health emergencies.” — Dr. Paul HĂ©bert, President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research Quick facts Last Updated on September 24, 2025

CanPath awarded $3M to study crises in a changing world

Read the original news release from the Government of Canada Toronto, Canada, September 23, 2025 â€“ What if Canada had a research platform ready to track the next pandemic, study the effects of climate change on health, and help explain rising cancer rates in young people? With a $3 million grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), CanPath is that platform. Awarded through CIHR’s Pandemic Research Platforms Interim Funding opportunity, this two-year operating grant supports CanPath’s unique ability to generate fast, meaningful insights during public health emergencies. This work goes far beyond pandemics: it also aims to tackle broader crises like climate-related health risks and early-onset cancer. “This grant strengthens CanPath’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to future public health emergencies,” said Dr. Jennifer Brooks, CanPath’s Executive Director. “Our platform is built for this kind of work, with hundreds of thousands of Canadians already engaged, linked health records, and long-term follow-up in place.” The grant is led by Dr. Brooks and Dr. Philip Awadalla, CanPath’s National Scientific Co-Director, with a national team of co-investigators. The funding is held at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. “CanPath is known as a research resource, but now in its prime, it’s built for resilience,” said Dr. Awadalla. “We’re proud to continue this work with our partners and support Canada’s preparedness for emerging diseases in a changing world.” Canada’s largest health study is ready to respond CanPath, the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health, is the country’s largest population health cohort, with more than 330,000 participants recruited from all 10 provinces. Participants have consented to long-term follow-up, data linkage, and future contact, providing a uniquely flexible and future-ready research platform. During the COVID-19 pandemic, CanPath rapidly deployed a national antibody study, linked testing data to participant records, and surveyed participants in real time. Results were shared widely with researchers, policymakers, and the public and featured by Global News, National Post, and The Globe and Mail. “CanPath’s COVID-19 response showed how powerful our model can be,” said Dr. Victoria Kirsh, CanPath National Scientific Coordinator. “We were able to launch surveys, test for antibodies, and communicate directly with participants in record time. This grant ensures we can build on that success, strengthen our partnerships, and stay ready to support evidence-based action when it matters most.” What this funding supports Through this grant, CanPath will continue to: This work builds on CanPath’s strategic partnerships with: Together, these partnerships strengthen CanPath’s role as a responsive, data-rich platform that serves researchers, funders, policymakers, and communities alike. Ready for the next challenge This grant builds on CanPath’s proven ability to act fast, scale up, and generate real-world impact. In future public health emergencies, CanPath is ready to: CanPath’s national team of investigators—including Drs. Trevor Dummer, Simon Gravel, Vikki Ho, Victoria Kirsh, Guillaume Lettre, Grace Shen-Tu, Jared Simpson, Ellen Sweeney, Megan Vanstone, Donna Turner, and Robin Urquhart—brings deep expertise across research fields and geographies. “This isn’t just about the next pandemic,” said Brooks. “It’s about being prepared for the full range of health challenges we’re facing, from chronic diseases—including cancer—to environmental change. This grant helps us keep Canada at the forefront of evidence-based, equitable research.” Pandemics don’t wait, and thanks to this investment, neither will CanPath. For more information, please contact:Megan FlemingCommunications & Knowledge Translation OfficerCanadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath)info@canpath.ca Last Updated on September 24, 2025

Upcoming Genomic Workshop

The Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute (BHCRI) and Canadian Bioinformatics Hub are hosting a Clinical Genomics for Precision Oncology Workshop on November 4-5, 2025 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This 1.5-day, hands-on workshop directly supports BHCRI’s strategic pillars of research excellence, training and support, and networking and collaboration. Participants will gain experience in: Who Should Attend: Clinical researchers, researcher scientists, post–doctoral fellows, and graduate students with cancer genomics research projects. Registration: CAD $50 (Early Bird: Aug 28–Oct 13) | CAD $100 (Regular: Oct 14–Oct 27) 🔗 Learn More and Register Here!  Last Updated on September 19, 2025

Dr. Parveen Bhatti on IARC’s Monographs Programme

The IARC – International Agency for Research on Cancer / World Health Organization’s Monograph program has been reviewing scientific evidence to classify substances and exposures based on their level of cancer risk. It has been instrumental in identifying carcinogenic hazards, providing the scientific foundation for evidence-based policies and regulations that protect populations worldwide. Our colleague, Dr. Parveen Bhatti, Scientific Director of BC Generations speaks about the ways the Monograph program has impacted public health decision-making in Canada. Access his video. Last Updated on September 18, 2025

IARC Webinar

We were pleased to attend a recent presentation by Dr. Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), as she discusses IARC’s evolving research and prevention strategies for the global cancer burden. The event was co-hosted by Dr. Fei-Fei Liu, Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Cancer Research, and Dr. Adalsteinn (Steini) Brown, Dean, Dalla Lana School of Public Health Dr. Weiderpass is an expert in cancer epidemiology and cancer prevention, with a particular interest in cancer registration, the understanding of cancers and the implementation of effective prevention strategies. She has published more than 1,000 scientific papers in peer-reviewed international journals. Prior to joining IARC, Dr. Weiderpass served as Head, Department of Research at the Cancer Registry of Norway, and of the Genetic Epidemiology Group at the Folkhälsan Research Center in Finland. She was Professor of Medical Epidemiology at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, and Professor of Cancer Epidemiology at the Arctic University of Norway. Last Updated on September 17, 2025

Arthritis Awareness Month

Please join Atlantic PATH in acknowledging Arthritis Awareness Month this September. Arthritis affects joints and other tissues which results in pain and limited mobility. One in five people in Canada live with arthritis and Atlantic Canada has some of the highest rates in the country. We would like to highlight arthritis research using data from Atlantic PATH participants. Dr. Cheryl Kozey and colleagues completed a study on the Current Management and Health Care Quality for Patients with Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis. The team used existing data from Atlantic PATH to examine self-reported characteristics of people living with and without osteoarthritis in all three Maritime Provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island).  The Atlantic PATH data for Nova Scotians was then linked to administrative data, accessed through Health Data Nova Scotia, in order to identify trends in health care use by Nova Scotians with and without osteoarthritis. The report, Current Management and Health Care Use for People with Osteoarthritis and infographic detail their findings, including that people with osteoarthritis in the Maritimes were older, more likely to be female, and had lower socioeconomic status compared to those without osteoarthritis. Participants with osteoarthritis from Atlantic PATH were invited to participate in an ancillary study. The article “Quality of Non-Surgical and Non-Pharmacological Knee Osteoarthritis Care in the Maritimes” highlights that more than half of individuals with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis did not receive recommended core treatments in the Maritimes, highlighting a need to improve care for this patient group. Dr. Vanessa DeClercq‘s work focused on the relationship between adipokines and adiposity among females with rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Using data and biological samples from Atlantic PATH, they found that those with higher levels of adiponectin were more likely to have osteoarthritis, but not rheumatoid arthritis. This study demonstrates differences in measures of adiposity and adipokines in specific types of arthritis. Last Updated on September 4, 2025