Tag: CanPath

Participant Town Hall (Nov 17th)

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Less than two weeks before the upcoming Atlantic PATH and CanPath Participant Town Hall! On Monday, November 17th, you can learn about how we are “Preventing Cancer, Together: How your Data is Driving Discoveries.” Join us at the Town Hall to learn how the data and biological samples provided by our participants are used to study cancer and chronic disease and support exciting scientific discoveries. When: Monday, November 17, 2025 1-230pm Atlantic Time Where: Online Zoom Meeting Watch your email inbox for an invitation and additional details! If you have changed your contact information, please reach out: https://www.atlanticpath.ca/index.php/contact-us/ You can also register here (http://bit.ly/4nRdVHh) and submit your questions to be answered during our panel discussion. Please note, the webinar will be recorded and shared afterwards on YouTube.

Breast Cancer Research in Canada

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Empower yourself with knowledge: How CanPath is reshaping breast cancer research in Canada  For decades, race and ethnicity have been largely missing from breast cancer research in Canada. The Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath) is working to close that gap by studying how screening participation, treatments, risk factors, and outcomes differ across racial and ethnic groups, with the goal of informing more equitable, evidence-based screening guidelines.  CanPath is Canada’s largest population health study, supported by over 330,000 participants across Canada who provide life-changing health data to help our researchers uncover important links between lifestyle, genetics and health.   This October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and with a recent $300K investment from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), CanPath is highlighting the amazing work from our researchers to examine differences in breast cancer screening participation, treatments, and outcomes by race and ethnicity, and identify how risk factors vary across groups.  Through this research, CanPath plans to inform more equitable screening guidelines and prevention approaches by providing currently missing data on race and ethnicity, helping to ensure that breast cancer screening reflects the diverse needs of all Canadian women.  “Empower yourself with knowledge about your personal risk factors, family history of disease and seek out regular screening given that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime,” advises Prof. Victoria Kirsh, CanPath’s Scientific Coordinator and Assistant Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH). “CanPath is an amazing resource with a rich data set on lifestyle, environment, genetic, and dietary data so the research possibilities are really endless”.  CanPath is committed to a future without cancer and is dedicated to providing the necessary research to transition this goal into reality for all women.  What has been missing  Canada’s population continues to change with a growing diverse population, yet little information is out there about the effects of race and cancer outcomes. Genetics, lifestyle and environment all play key roles in risk for cancers however the effect of race remains understudied. “I think the project as a whole is inspiring to begin with, we’re looking at racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes, and that’s something that has been on the back burner or not even investigated for a really, really long time,” highlights Fatima Zulfiqar, a CanPath practicum student who spent her summer supporting this project’s development. “I know that there are various women of color who have certain predispositions when it comes to breast cancer and so having this conversation and looking at the nuances that race plays in breast cancer outcomes is important.”  Historically, marginalized groups have been left out of research, leading to issues with generalizing findings to a larger population. Issues with accessibility to breast cancer care continue to persist and require a deeper dive to tear down the barriers within healthcare.  “It’s very important to study [breast cancer] and look at it and understand it from a real life perspective of how it’s impacting women, who are seeking care or not seeking care and what those differences are and how we can probe them and explore them and hopefully make breast cancer care and diagnosis more accessible to all of them,” said Marilla Hulls, an MPH Epidemiology practicum student who supported another CanPath project objective related to breast cancer screening. Be the link that bridges the gap  Much remains to be uncovered in breast cancer research, and CanPath is committed to supporting young researchers in their journey to create a long-lasting impact within the field. These upcoming researchers are working to close evidence gaps in breast cancer risk, screening and outcomes across racial and ethnic groups in Canada.  “If you’re looking for an area that’s really impactful, we know that breast cancer affects a lot of people in Canada. Even if it’s not yourself that has breast cancer, you probably know someone who has breast cancer or who has been affected,” says Ashley Mah, a doctoral student working on the project. “This is a really great area of research to work in and it’s really collaborative and you get to meet so many amazing people including clinicians, other researchers, students, trainees as well as patients”.  Breast cancer research is only made possible by the participation of Canadians who offer their information to provide the necessary data to drive new discoveries. Our participants make it possible to analyze patterns in screening, diagnosis and treatment across diverse communities and their dedication does not go unappreciated.  “Going through the process has taught me a lot. Those numbers are not just data points, they’re actually human beings, they have volunteered their information to help us make our research move forward and it’s very rewarding,” says Feifan Xiang, a data analyst for the study.  More to be done  Acknowledging the effect of breast cancer on the public is just the beginning of a dedicated investigation to making breast cancer screening more widely available, comprehensive and culturally appropriate to ensure women everywhere receive the care they need.  CanPath is continually working to link cancer databases with participant information to analyze screening results, including recall and biopsy rates, and inform more equitable prevention, detection and treatment strategies in Canada.  For more information, please contact: Megan FlemingCommunications & Knowledge Translation OfficerCanadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath)info@canpath.ca

Canadian Cancer Research Conference 2025 (Calgary, AB)

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CanPath and its regional cohorts will be well represented at the Canadian Cancer Research Conference taking place in Calgary, AB from November 2-4, 2025. This conference “brings together the Canadian cancer research community for an agenda spanning the research spectrum. This is an ideal opportunity for researchers, trainees, clinicians, decision-makers, and patients to hear the latest developments in Canadian cancer research and network across research disciplines.” Oral presentations include: Dr. Maryam Darvishian, University of British Columbia Dr. Darvishian will present on i) breast cancer screening engagement among women with different ethnic backgrounds; and ii) predictors of participation in cervical cancer screening. Dr. Mariam Mehran, Q-CROC (Clinical Research in Oncology) Dr. Mehran will present on the lifetime occupational and domestic environmental exposures and breast cancer risk. Poster presentations include: Dr. Travis Hrubeniuk, Manitoba Tomorrow Project/Cancer Care Manitoba Dr. Hrubeniuk will present on the lessons learned in building a population-based cohort for cancer research. Katarina Maksimovic, MSc, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research Katarina will present on biobanks, research and resources related to oncology samples and data. Dr. Sam Kenston, University of British Columbia Dr. Kenston will present data related to the built environment and its impact on adherence to cancer prevention guidelines, cancer incidence and mortality. Laura Pelland-St-Pierre, University of Montreal Laura will present on occupational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and breast and prostate cancer. Dr. Rachel Murphy, University of British Columbia Dr. Murphy will present on new opportunities for exploring diet and activity across the cancer trajectory. Theresa Vo, MSc, Memorial University Theresa will present on a study that will focus on repeated breast cancer screening uptake among Chinese immigrants. Alyssa Milano, MSc, BC Cancer Alyssa will present on precision cancer prevention and unravelling heterogeneity in dietary intake and metabolic health. Jean Claude Bigenimana, BC Cancer Jean Claude will present on using natural language processing to create a virtual tumour repository for cancer research. Ace Chan, MSc, University of British Columbia Ace will present on changes in cancer-causing substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic among gender minority populations. Laura Grant, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project Laura will present on research opportunities and building a cancer trajectory biobank. Dr. Grace Shen-Tu, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project Dr. Shen-Tu will present on leveraging data and biosamples to unlock new cancer and chronic disease insights. Dr. Sara Nejatinamini, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project Dr. Nejatinamini will present on disparities in geospatial patterns of cervical cancer screening and associated risk factors . Dr. Jason Xu, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project Dr. Xu will present on the concordance between self-reported and administrative data on cervical cancer screening. Sabine El-Halabi, University of British Columbia Sabine will present on external validation and comparison of endometrial cancer risk populations. Melanie Matte, MPH, University of Calgary Melanie will present on insights from the development of a mobile phone app for cancer prevention research.

Participant Town Hall

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Join us for the upcoming Atlantic PATH and CanPath Participant Town Hall! On Monday, November 17th, you can learn about how we are “Preventing Cancer, Together: How your Data is Driving Discoveries.” The Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath) is the largest population health study in Canada with more than 330,000 participants in seven regional cohorts, including Atlantic PATH, BC Generations Project, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project, Healthy Future Sask, Manitoba Tomorrow Project, Ontario Health Study, and CARTaGENE (Quebec). The data and biological samples provided by our participants are used to study cancer and chronic disease and support exciting scientific discoveries. Join us at the Town Hall to When: Monday, November 17, 2025 1-230pm Atlantic Time Where: Online Zoom Meeting Register here and submit your questions to be answered during our panel discussion. Please note, the webinar will be recorded and shared afterwards on YouTube.

World Mental Health Day

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Join us in recognizing World Mental Health Day. CanPath is Canada’s largest population health study and includes approximately 34,000 participants who were diagnosed with depression and more than 27,000 participants with anxiety. Data and biosamples provided by our participants are being used in critical mental health research. Alexandra Del Favero is a PhD student in the Department of Earth and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University. Along with her supervisor, Dr. Kelvin Fong and using questionnaire data, toenail and saliva samples from Atlantic PATH, Alex is examining the effect of environmental factors on mental health in Nova Scotia. CanPath is one of 23 cohorts with 2.8 million participants included in the COVID Global Mental Health Consortium (CGMHC). Led by Dr. Jordan Smoller (Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital), this work is investigating pandemic-related mental health outcomes using individual-level harmonized longitudinal data. Data collected from CanPath COVID-19 questionnaires completed by participants from all regional cohorts are being used. Atlantic PATH are proud to lead this work on behalf of CanPath. Dr. Ashlyn Swift-Gallant (Department of Psychology, Memorial University) used data from Atlantic PATH to conduct research that found ovarian hormones contribute to the sex disparity in post-traumatic stress disorder. Drs. Gabriela Ilie, Rob Rutledge and Ellen Sweeney (Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health) used data from Atlantic PATH to investigate the association between prostate cancer diagnosis and mental health outcomes. Their work found increased rates of anxiety and depression among males with a history of prostate cancer; higher odds of depression among prostate cancer survivors who were treated with surgery; and higher rates of depression among prostate cancer survivors with a low household income compared to other forms of cancer and a high household income. These findings highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary effort to prioritize and deliver comprehensive mental health support to prostate cancer survivors. This work has helped to inform the groundbreaking Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP) and CancerPEP led by Drs. Ilie and Rutledge that have been implemented around the world. Atlantic PATH is one of the 18 cohort studies in the PSYchosocial factors and CAncer (PSY-CA) Consortium. Led by Dr. Joost Dekker from the Amsterdam University Medical Centre, this study investigated whether psychosocial factors, such as depression can predict the incidence of cancer. Multiple publications that include Atlantic PATH data can be found here. To find out about the most up-to-date mental health research and learn about data access, please visit our website.

Message from the Minister of Health – Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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From: Public Health Agency of Canada Statement from the Minister of Health, The Honourable Marjorie Michel P.C., M.P. October 8, 2025  | Ottawa, Ontario | Public Health Agency of Canada “Breast cancer remains one of the most common forms of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death among women in Canada. One in eight women will receive a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.  That’s why the Government of Canada works closely with partners and stakeholders to promote breast cancer awareness, prevention and screening for early detection. Empowering women to make informed decisions about their health can save lives. …Important work is happening to help us better understand breast cancer trends and risks to better respond to the diverse needs of women across Canada. For example, we have partnered with the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health and Statistics Canada to accelerate breast cancer data analysis based on factors such as age, race and ethnicity. As well, experts are enhancing the OncoSim-Breast model that was developed by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and Statistics Canada, by including data on breast density and exploring the inclusion of race-based data to better predict breast cancer outcomes and inform decision making. Breast cancer touches the lives of so many every day. Nobody should have to face this disease alone. If you or a loved one is coping with a cancer diagnosis, there are many ways you can seek support. Visit the Canadian Cancer Society’s community services locator, which helps cancer patients, caregivers and health care providers find the services they need.”

CanPath Round Up: Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

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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

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

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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 Hébert, President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research Quick facts

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

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Read the original news release from the Government of Canada Toronto, Canada, September 23, 2025 – 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

Webinar: Who gets counted? Examining representativeness in Canadian COVID-19 serosurveillance studies

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Date: September 10, 2025Time: 2-3pmASTLocation:us02web.zoom.us Register for the webinar About the webinar During the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers used a range of creative recruitment strategies to carry out serological surveillance, but how representative were these study populations, and what can we learn from them? In this webinar, Dr. W. Alton Russell, Matthew Knight, and Dr. Yuan Yu will present findings from their recent BMC Public Health study comparing the sociodemographic characteristics of six SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance studies in Canada, including one using CanPath data. They’ll explore how study design influenced representation across age, sex, urban/rural location, material deprivation, and racialized groups, and why understanding these patterns is essential for equity-informed public health research beyond COVID-19. This webinar is ideal for public health researchers, epidemiologists, data scientists, and others interested in study design, health equity, and population-based surveillance. About the presenters W. Alton Russell, PhD, directs the data-driven decision modelling lab, which aims to enable the efficient, effective, and equitable use of finite healthcare resources using data science and decison modelling methods, in the McGill School of Population and Global Health. As Scientific Advisor to the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force until 2024, Dr. Russell led projects to understand and correct for bias in studies of SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunity related to representativeness, sample collection method, and assay performance. Matthew Knight, MSc, is the Data Manager of the Canadian Co-infection Cohort study at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, where he works alongside team members to maintain study databases, implement and document data harmonization initiatives, and support investigators with study analyses. He recently completed his Master’s degree in Epidemiology in the data-driven decision modelling lab, where he analyzed the sociodemographic representativeness of six Canadian serosurveillance studies under the supervision of Dr. Russell. Yuan Yu, PhD, is a statistician previously joined Alton’s decision modeling lab at McGill for serosurveillance study collaborating with Canadian Blood Services. With a background in Bayesian statistics and survey sampling, she has a broad interest in Bayesian application fields utilizing healthcare data resources.