Ontario Health Study

06/03/2026

Your data at work: Study by CanPath - Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health that used OHS participant survey data, biosamples, and genotyping data, sheds light on the connection between air pollution and autoimmune and rheumatic diseases. Understanding these connections is critical for disease prevention, treatment, and public health strategies. CANUE

CanPath's large-scale dataset is an invaluable resource for researchers undertaking air pollution and autoimmune disease research.

05/27/2026

Did you know your blood stem cells can "remember" past infections and inflammation, and that this memory may affect your long-term health as you age?

A new study published today in Nature, “Human haematopoietic stem cells remember inflammatory stress” by Dr. Philip Awadalla and collaborators from around the world reveals exactly that. The findings help explain the impact a lifetime of illness and inflammation can have on our blood, and why some people face greater health risks as they get older.

Data from Ontario Health Study and CanPath - Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health participants helped make this discovery possible, a powerful reminder of why population health research matters.

Thank you to the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research Genomics team for their vital role in the genomic sequencing that powered this work, as well as contributors Jasmine Ryu Won Kang, Elias Gbeha and Elyssa Bader

Read the study 👇
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10522-7

Using xenograft inflammation–recovery models and single-cell multiomics, a haematopoietic stem cell population after inflammatory stress is identified.

05/27/2026

In honour of the upcoming this Sunday, we want to remind you that it’s not too late to quit smoking. The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that smoking causes about 30% of cancer deaths in Canada and is linked to roughly 72% of lung cancer cases.

Check out how OHS participants responded to our smoking question in our Follow-Up Questionnaire 2!

05/21/2026

It's International Tea Day! Did you know that tea is the world’s second most popular beverage — over 2.3 billion cups are enjoyed daily. How many OHS participants include tea in their diet? If you’re an OHS participant who received an email invitation to the HEAL (HEALthy Eating and Supportive Environments) Study, log into your OHS account & tell us what foods and drinks you typically consume so that we can study the relationship between diet, physical activity, and environmental factors. Share your habits to support our research.

NOTE: You can take part only once you’ve received your invitation email. Invites are sent in batches, so watch out for your invite in the near future!

05/14/2026

Congratulations to CanPath - Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health for reaching 10,000 HEAL Study participants!

We just hit 10,000 HEAL study participants, and you helped make that happen! 🎉

Every survey you've filled out about what you ate and how you moved is a piece of a much bigger puzzle. Researchers can use this data to study cancer, heart disease, mental health, and more.

Your corner of Canada matters to this research. Thank you for showing up 👏 https://canpath.ca/2026/05/heal-study-10000-participant-milestone/

05/13/2026

Here’s what Linda from Richmond Hill had to say about why she has continued to be a member of the Ontario Health Study since joining in 2012:

05/06/2026

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week! The Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario, estimates about one in five Canadians face mental health challenges each year. This can include conditions like anxiety, depression or substance-use issues, and it affects people across all ages and backgrounds.

Check out some responses we received from our Follow-Up Questionnaire 2:

04/29/2026

A new cross-Canada study of diet and physical activity has begun! Over the course of the year, OHS participants will receive an invitation to take part in the HEAL (HEALthy Eating and Supportive Environments) Study, where you will be asked to complete a survey and a series of recall questionnaires about your diet and physical activity, to help researchers study the relationship between our health and what we eat, how we move, and where we live.

Invitations are being spaced out to better account for seasonal changes in habits over the course of the year. You can begin once you receive your invitation email. Read more about HEAL here: https://www.ontariohealthstudy.ca/for-participants/heal-study/

04/24/2026

Follow-Up Questionnaire 2 officially closed earlier this month, putting the official count at more than 32,000 completed questionnaires!

The next opportunity to take part is already rolling out to participants - watch your inbox as you may soon be invited to the HEAL Study: https://www.ontariohealthstudy.ca/for-participants/heal-study/