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What’s New With the OHS?

Since 2010, the Ontario Health Study (OHS) has been working hard to build a platform for chronic disease research. Working together with the research community and Ontarians across the province we are now following the health of about 225,000 people and have collected more than 40,000 blood samples. We’re building a database of health information and a biobank so researchers can better understand the link between genetics, lifestyle and environment—and the role they play in our health.

In this section, you’ll find information about the various Study activities and upcoming initiatives.

Blood tubes in the laboratory centrifuge

OHS data being used to understand breast cancer screening rates

Feb 27, 2025 // Study Updates

The data from more than 135,000 Ontario Health Study participants are being used to explore how breast cancer screening rates – and what happens subsequent to those screenings – may vary for people of different ethnicities. By linking self-reported health information with provincial health records, researchers aim to uncover potential disparities in access, follow-up care,

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What if there was a test to detect breast cancer years earlier?

Feb 21, 2025 // Study Updates

Funding from the 2024 FACIT Prospects Fund is being used to develop a technology that could identify breast cancer markers in the blood several years before that same cancer would normally be identified through a tumour biopsy. Previous data from Ontario Health Study participants were used to develop a proof of concept for this new

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OHS Research Spotlight: Dr. Michelle Harwood

Jan 15, 2025 // Study Updates

Why do some people remain healthy as they age, while others develop disease earlier? Dr. Michelle Harwood used OHS data for her PhD research into this question, exploring how allele-specific expression (ASE) contributes to the variation in healthy and unhealthy agers.  

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