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April 25, 2024
Community Health and Wellness Statewide News

MI-CARES aims to improve health of our communities

by Tanya0698

Featured photo: Sara Snyder, project director for MI-CARES

Written by Tanya Terry

MI–CARES is a statewide research study funded by the National Cancer Institute and the University of Michigan to understand the impact of environmental exposures on our health. MI-CARES aims to enroll at least 100,000 Michiganders (ages 25-44) primarily in areas identified as “hotspots” of environmental injustice, as well as throughout the whole state of Michigan.

The Courier had the opportunity to recently speak with Sara Snyder, project director for MI-CARES, as well as Lilah Khoja and Maxwell Salvatore, two Ph.D. students in the Department of Epidemiology at U of M who oversee the engagement and recruitment processes for MI-CARES.

“We are hoping to evaluate the impact of all sorts of environmental toxins improvements on the health of Michiganders, specifically on cancerous” stated Khoja. “We are targeting our recruitment to the whole state of Michigan, really, but we are particularly interested in recruiting individuals from what have been identified as hotspots, environmental injustice hotspots in the state of Michigan. Unfortunately, it does go without saying that Flit is one of those environmental injustice hotspots in the state, even thinking back before the Flint Water Crisis. It’s just the history of industry and kind of a lack of government stewardship in terms of protecting our health and our environment.”
Lilah Khoja
The other hotpots have been identified as as the Metro Detroit area, Saginaw, Bay City, the Midland area, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Lansing.
There are over 1,100 participants enrolled to date. The study launched in June, primarily with the focus on the Metro Detroit area initially, but is  now actively expanding recruitment to the other other  hotspots, as well as the rest of the state.
“Because this is going to be a cohort study that’s longitudinal in nature, we’re going to be hopefully following up with all 100,000 participants over the course of at least six years,” Khoja explained. “We’ll really actually going to be able to assess a wide range of health problems, not just specifically cancer. Due to the depth and the breadth of the data that’s reflecting, we really will be able to kind of paint like a robust picture of the impact of some of these environmental toxins influence on the health of Michiganders.”
The cohort is funded by the national by the National Institute for Health through the National Cancer Institute and the University of Michigan.
When participants enroll they will complete a questionnaire, which asks where they have lived, about their smoking history and personal healthcare products used. An annual questionnaire will also be sent to the participants, which will be shorter. Those living in the areas identified as hotspots will also be asked if they would like to provide a blood sample, a saliva sample, or both, which is all optional. The samples will give the researchers a better understanding of the effects of  environmental pollutants on  health.
Joining the movement can mean filling out a questionnaire once a year, volunteering at community events or learning about environmental exposures.
The research study was  developed by a team of principal investigators, namely Celeste Leigh Pearce, Ph.D., MPH;  Dana Dolinoy, Ph.D.; Bhramar Mukherjee, Ph.D.; Sara Adar, Ph.D.; Ana Baylin, MD; Justin Colacino, Ph.D., MPH and Alison Mondul, Ph.D., MS.
Maxwell Salvatore
Salvatore pointed out cancer is is a complex disease that can initiate years before it presents clinical symptoms.
“So we wanted to identify exposures during a critical window of time early at 25-44 so that we can accurately ascertain sort of the environmental exposures and other related health factors that could be relevant to the the development of of a future cancer diagnosis,” Salvatore added.

“We are moving to take some of the information gained and turn it into some policy change, and we are working on making connections with local leaders, so that when we do get to that point we’ll have established those connections early on,” Snyder stated.

Sara Snyder

Currently, there is a lottery-based incentive. Every one hundredth person enrolled will have their name put in the lottery to receive $50. Snyder explained the incentive program is currently being restructured so all participants can receive an incentive.

Snyder also stated the biggest disconnect they have identified in these communities is public leaders and other organizations are not disclosing information as they should.
“So just knowing that if we can help in some way bridge that gap, I think that in itself is a benefit or an incentive if people choose to look at it that way,” Snyder said.
Participation can be completely remote.
To learn more or to participate, click here: https://www.micares.health/

 

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