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Established in 1962 as a joint enterprise of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Washington County Health Department and the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health to:
1. Provide a base of operations for graduate students who are interested in community-based research (see attached listing of data sources).
- Over 50 doctoral theses have been done using Washington County data.
2. Serve as a resource to the local health department in the areas of public health surveillance and assessment.
3. Provide data for Epidemiology course 340.604 Design and Applications of Case-control Studies. Staff serve as consultants for data bases.
4. Data collection and surveillance for cancer. Maintain a county cancer registry. Maintain a mortality data base for Washington County.
5. Major research activities in Washington County. Dr. Kathy Helzlsouer (PI)
- CLUE I (fall of 1974): approximately 26,000 blood samples were collected.
- CLUE II (spring and fall of 1989): approximately 33,000 blood samples were collected in addition to white blood cells, toenail clippings, and a sample with a vitamin C preservative added for future studies of ascorbic acid. Approximately 160 papers have been published in peer-reviewed journals from the resources in Washington County (list of publications resulting from the Clue studies).
- Active Follow-up of Clue participants. In order to use the resources of the specimen bank to its fullest potential, we required additional data primarily on known and suspected risk factors for cancer. Self-administered mailed questionnaires were sent to participants in 1996, 1998, and 2000. Questions were asked on family history, medical conditions, medications and vitamin use, and exercise, among others.
Current Research Activities Related to the CLUE Studies:
- Odyssey Study: Involves approximately 8,300 persons who participated in Clue I and Clue II to examine the effects of the interaction of genes and environmental exposure on cancer and health and aging (Helzlsouer/Strickland).
- Early Detection Research Network: One of eight centers. Uses the resources of the Clue studies to measure levels of certain biomarkers in the serum of participants, to determine if these substances play a role in detecting disease early. The role a suspected tumor marker called fatty acid synthase plays in predicting breast cancer is being investigated. An evaluation of a procedure for early detection of breast cancer and breast ductal lavage is in the process of development (Helzlsouer).
- Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE): to examine molecular factors associated with the pre-cancerous progression of benign breast disease to invasive breast cancer (Helzlsouer/Newschaffer).
- IGF and Colon Cancer: investigation on the effect of maintaining insulin control by consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and unrefined grains, avoiding obesity, and being physically active on prevention of colon cancer (Platz).
- ODC Prostate Cancer: ODC, a gene involved in normal cell growth, over-expressed causes tumor growth and progress. An investigation of the frequency of gene variances and the androgens which seem to increase ODC and the risk of prostate cancer.
Downtown Studies:
- Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC): Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 4,000 persons aged 45-64 were given a comprehensive exam for cardiovascular risk.
- Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS): Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 1,300 persons over age 65 were given a cardiovascular exam which was more comprehensive than ARIC.
- Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS): Recruited from subjects in ARIC and CHS. Will test whether sleep-related breathing disorders are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.
- Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study (GEMS): Funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institute of Aging and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The study will assess the effectiveness of the plant ginkgo biloba in preventing dementia in older adults.
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