| Name of Biobank |
The Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project (CPTP) - including the Ontario Health Study (OHS) |
| Year Initiated |
2009 (recruitment began after many years of development) |
| Primary objective (one sentence) |
The primary scientific objectives are to determine the causes of various cancers, coronary heart disease and other important chronic diseases, and to identify the determinants of the major risk factors for these health outcomes. |
| Key components (please briefly address the following): |
The CPTP is a pan-Canadian prospective cohort that consists of projects conducted in five regions. The CPTP aims to recruit approximately 300,000 volunteers from the general population (Ontario = 150,000, Alberta = 50,000, BC = 40,000, Atlantic provinces = 30,000, Quebec = 20,000) who will be followed for more than 20 years. Procedures for each regional cohort have been prospectively harmonized to ensure data and logistical compatibility for future pooling of resources. Similarly, procedures and data were harmonized with major international biobank initiatives through the P3G consortium (www.p3g.org). The cohort resource will be made available for use by diverse research communities across Ontario. |
| Time frame |
The CPTP and each of the contributing provincial cohorts have been established as long-term initiatives. The goal is to recruit all participants over a three-year period (2009 – 2012), and then follow participants for at least 20 years. Baseline data collection includes self-reported questionnaire responses, which will be supplemented by biopsecimen collection and physical measures, the timing of which varies by province according to the availability of funds. Each province has piloted a model whereby participants attend an assessment centre where physical measurements and biospecimen collection are completed. |
| Sample size (current and anticipated) and characteristics (age, gender) |
- Current sample size = 17,100 (Ontario = 4200, Atlantic = 4000, BC = 3600, Alberta = 2900, Quebec = 2400)
- Anticipated sample size = approximately 300,000 across Canada (in 2012) – see provincial numbers above
- Age: between the ages of 35 and 69 years, at the time of recruitment
- Residents of province, regardless of health status, volunteering from community
- Gender: Male and Female
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| Recruitment area, method of recruitment/follow-up, sample representativeness |
- Recruitment: Volunteers invited from across the population, by multiple means (direct mail, advertising, media, internet, community group engagement, etc.), aiming to encompass the cultural, ethnic and geographic diversity of the population. While the sample will be large and diverse, it is designed to include volunteers who are committed to long-term participation, whereas representativeness will be assessed by comparing to standard community health surveys.
- Follow-up: Active follow-up will include annual contact by mail or internet to maintain contact and to conduct brief data collection updates. Passive follow-up will include (with consent) linkage to population-based registries to detect the occurrence of health outcomes (see below).
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| Types of data/specimens collected (questionnaire, physical exam) |
- All participants complete questionnaire and provide consent at baseline, followed by collection of biospecimens and physical measures, as funding permits.
- Questionnaire for self-reported data on health history, behaviours, lifestyle, medical history, medication, environment, residence, occupation, etc.
- Physical examination in centres across Canada capture standardized measures of blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight/bio-impedance, waist and hip circumferences, and grip strength (plus some provinces measure bone density, ankle-brachial index, and spirometry).
- Biospecimens: blood sample (36-50 ml) and spot urine samples are collected, processed, aliquoted and frozen (aliquots of plasma, serum, buffy coat, red blood cells and urine).
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| Data collection, storage, processing systems |
- Open source systems developed to aid collection and processing of self-reported questionnaire data, and automated capture of physical measures (slight variation in questionnaire data systems between provinces).
- Partnerships established with biospecimen repository providers (primary and back-up sites), with long-term storage primarily in liquid nitrogen.
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| Method of consent, reporting of results |
- Method of consent: Active and direct informed consent regarding all aspects of the study.
- Results obtained during the assessment centre visit are provided to participants in a written report, which can be reviewed with Study staff (e.g., nurse manager in the OHS).
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| Health outcomes of interest |
Although established initially to study the relative contribution of genetic, environmental, personal and community factors in cancer etiology, the CPTP was designed to also support studies of other important health outcomes. Follow-up to detect these outcomes will primarily be by record linkage to population-based cancer registries and administrative databases used in the delivery of health services to the population. |
| Funding Sources |
Several federal and provincial organizations provide financial and organizational support, including the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Genome Quebec, Genome Canada, Cancer Care Ontario, Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion, Alberta Cancer Foundation/Alberta Health Services and the Canary Foundation. Additional funding partners will be included as the program evolves. |
