Alberta's Tomorrow Project (ATP) is a research study that looks at what causes cancer and chronic (long-term) diseases and how to prevent them.
ATP also works to improve the cancer and chronic disease journey—from early detection to treatment and recovery.
It is the largest research study ever done in Alberta.
Can I join the study?
Recruitment for this study is closed. If recruitment opens again and you want to join, email tomorrow@cancercarealberta.ca.
Between 2000 and 2015, about 55,000 Albertans joined the APT.
What do study participants do?
ATP participants agreed to stay involved in the study for up to 50 years.
They filled out health and lifestyle surveys and visited study centres to give blood, urine, and saliva samples. Sometimes they were asked to take part in smaller studies or projects.
Now that recruitment is closed, participants fill out health and lifestyle surveys every 2 to 3 years.
ATP is also a research platform. Researchers use the
data and samples they collect to learn who gets cancer and chronic diseases, who doesn’t, and why. This helps find ways to prevent and treat these health problems.
Is the study just in Alberta?
In 2008, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project joined other provinces to form The Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath). Over 330,000 Canadians have joined the national study.
The results from both the provincial and national studies will help find new ways to prevent cancer and other long-term health problems for people in the future.
Why is cancer and chronic disease research important?
Cancer and chronic diseases affect everyone in some way.
- In Alberta, 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer sometime in their life, and 1 in 4 people diagnosed with cancer will die from it.
- In Canada, 1 in 3 people are living with diabetes or pre-diabetes, and 1 in 12 are living with heart disease.
Funders
Alberta's Tomorrow Project operates out of Cancer Care Alberta. It is funded by:
