Collaborative Research Driving a Healthier Future
Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (ATP) is a landmark longitudinal study designed to uncover why some people develop cancer and chronic diseases while others do not. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, ATP began recruiting participants in 2000 and has since grown to include more than 55,000 Albertans from across the province. By collecting long-term health and lifestyle data, ATP aims to reveal pathways for prevention, earlier diagnosis, and improved quality of life for those living with cancer and chronic diseases in Alberta and beyond.
What ATP Is and Why It Matters
ATP is one of the largest health research studies in Western Canada. Its core strength lies in gathering comprehensive data over a 50-year horizon, enabling researchers to identify early indicators and risk factors that influence cancer development and chronic disease trajectories. Participants willingly share personal data to inform research that could transform prevention strategies and treatment approaches for generations to come.
How ATP Collects and Uses Data
Data collection in ATP is multi-faceted. Participants complete surveys that capture a wide spectrum of information, including mental health, tobacco use, cancer screening practices, body measurements, and family medical history. Combined, these surveys have produced over one billion data points, fueling policy-informed research and evidence-based improvements in cancer and chronic disease outcomes.
Beyond survey data, more than 30,000 participants have donated thousands of biological samples—blood and urine—that enable precise measurements of genetics and other health markers. When researchers link this biobank data with health records and survey information, they can investigate how lifestyle, genetics, and environmental factors interact to shape health across generations.
ATP recently relocated to the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary, a hub that brings together clinicians, researchers, and medical experts. This modern facility provides an ideal environment to maximize the potential of ATP’s vast data resources, including a biobank with more than one million biological samples.
Current and Upcoming Studies
ATP supports a diverse portfolio of research initiatives. One notable effort is the Lung Cancer Risk Factors Study, conducted in partnership with the University of Calgary’s Evict Radon National Study team led by Dr. Aaron Goodarzi. By collaborating across disciplines and organizations, ATP expands the scope and impact of cancer prevention research.
Looking ahead, the Diet and Physical Activity project—planned to begin in late 2025—will be a flagship effort within CanPath, a large national health study, and will involve six regional cohorts. This project will gather the most extensive data yet on how diet, food environments, and physical activity influence cancer risk and overall health. The findings are expected to guide personalized prevention strategies and inform treatment decisions for individuals facing cancer and other chronic diseases.
Why Collaboration Matters
ATP is built on collaboration—between researchers, healthcare institutions, policymakers, and Alberta residents who contribute their data. The long-term nature of the study makes it possible to observe health trends across decades, offering insights that short-term studies cannot capture. This deep, integrated data ecology supports discoveries that can prevent diseases, enable earlier detection, and improve treatment outcomes, ultimately shaping a healthier tomorrow for Albertans and beyond.
Looking to the Future
The ongoing commitment of ATP participants and the expanding partnerships in Alberta and across Canada promise continued advances in cancer prevention and chronic disease management. As ATP grows, so does the potential to translate data into real-world improvements—reducing risk, enhancing early detection, and delivering better, more personalized care for people facing cancer and related illnesses.
