MSI PI Logan Spector (professor, Pediatrics; Masonic Cancer Center) is leading a new project that will study the health families over time. The researchers want sign up 10,000 families; these families will commit to having two members of two different generations fill out questionnaires and provide periodic samples. The goal is to study the development of various diseases and conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s. The Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota has donated $1 million to begin the research.
The researchers signed up families at the 2018 Minnesota State Fair, and are also taking online applications on their website.
A story about this project appeared on KSTP-tv: U of M Seeks 10,000 Families for Generational Study.
Professor Logan uses MSI resources to analyze whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing data to determine mutations linked to childhood cancers.