News Release
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Ontario Health Study to Run North Bay Study Centre June 18
Residents Invited to Book an Appointment and Contribute to a Healthier Future
Ontario—May 19, 2015. The Ontario Health Study (OHS) recently announced it will open the North Bay Study
Centre June 18, 2015 at the North Bay LifeLabs Patient Service Centre, located at 1221 Algonquin Avenue, Suite
403 in North Bay. The purpose of the North Bay Study Centre is for participants to contribute to a long-term
health research study while learning more about their own health.
North Bay area residents aged 35-69 years who have already taken the Ontario Health Study online will be
invited to visit the North Bay Study Centre to provide a blood sample, which will enable researchers to better
understand what affects health and quality of life. This may help improve the prevention and diagnosis of
chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. A visit to the North Bay Study Centre may also allow
participants to learn something new about their health. Following their visit each participant receives a
comprehensive blood analysis report of where their personal health falls within the reference range.
More participants are needed and all residents between ages 35 and 69 are encouraged to sign up and help
spread the word about this important health research initiative. Residents who have not yet signed up online
can do so easily by visiting www.ontariohealthstudy.ca/NorthBay or phone ahead of time for an appointment at
the North Bay Study Centre by calling 1-866-606-0686 or sending an email to [email protected]. Walkin
appointments are also accepted but an appointment is recommended to reduce any potential wait time.
More than 225,000 Ontarians have helped advance the public health of future generations right from their
computers by taking the Ontario Health Study’s online questionnaire. The OHS continues to recruit participants
to provide important health data and samples. This information will help researchers understand the risk factors
and causes of chronic diseases and to develop new prevention strategies and treatments.
Getting involved in the OHS is a simple, straightforward process. New participants just need to go to
www.ontariohealthstudy.ca/NorthBay, register and then take the survey, which takes about an hour. The OHS
follows strict privacy practices that govern how personal information is collected, who can see it and how it can
be used.
“The information provided in the initial online questionnaire provides us with an overall snapshot of the health
of Ontarians as well as their exposure to chronic disease risk factors,” says Dr. Mark Purdue, Executive Scientific
Director of the OHS. “By providing a blood sample or visiting the North Bay Study Centre, participants allow us to
get a more detailed look at their health. We can then compile this data to draw broader conclusions about the
health of the overall population.
The OHS is just one piece of an even larger national effort called the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project
(CPTP). The CPTP consists of the OHS and four other regional studies: The BC Generations Project, Alberta’s
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Tomorrow Project, Quebec’s CARTaGENE and the Atlantic PATH. Nationally, the CPTP has more than 300,000
participants aged 35 to 69 and more than 125,000 have provided a blood sample.
The OHS recently celebrated its fourth anniversary, and is already one of the largest long-term health studies in
Canada. The OHS continues to enrol new volunteer participants to take the online questionnaire.
The Study is currently focusing on face-to-face outreach with community groups and hospitals. If you would like
someone from OHS to visit your organization to discuss the Study, contact Jocelyn Garrett at
[email protected].
North Bay Study Centre Details:
North Bay LifeLabs Patient Service Centre (Formerly CML)
1221 Algonquin Avenue, Suite 403, North Bay, Ontario P1B 4Y3
Parking is free.
Thursday, June 18: 8am-4pm
How to get started:
• Visit www.ontariohealthstudy.ca to register for the Study and complete the online questionnaire. It only
takes about an hour. You have six weeks to complete the questionnaire from the time you start it;
• If you are selected for blood collection or a visit to the North Bay Study Centre you will receive an email
invitation;
• Once you receive this email, log into your OHS account and click on the “Next Step” button to proceed with
arranging your participation;
• If you have any questions you can speak to an OHS staff member by emailing [email protected] or
calling 1-866-606-0686.
For further information, or to schedule an interview with Dr. Mark Purdue, please contact:
Jocelyn Garrett
Ontario Health Study
647-259-8936 or 905-825-4295
[email protected]
