El Día del Niño 2024. Credit: 10,000 Families Study
The 10,000 Families Study (10KFS) began in 2017 to address the unique health needs of Minnesotans living in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes."
The study, led by Drs. Heather Nelson, Lisa Peterson, and Jen Poynter and a team of researchers in the School of Public Health, the Masonic Cancer Center, and the Medical School, focuses on common chemical exposures like radon, glyphosate (RoundUp), and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), found in both urban and rural areas. A primary goal is to assess if these exposures correlate with an increased prevalence of CHIP (Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential), an innovative biomarker for blood cancer risk.
Since its initial funding, the study has successfully enrolled over 4,500 Minnesotans from 2,000 families. The participants intentionally reflect the demographic and geographic diversity of Minnesota, including groups often underrepresented in cancer research. This work aims to gather data and samples from people over time, looking at their past, present, and future health, to better understand how current environmental exposures impact long-term health and to develop health advice and policy recommendations for all Minnesotans. The team continues to seek enrollees for this vital, collaborative research.
In 2021, the study received $2.1 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCI) for an initial study period of two years. In 2023, the study received a grant renewal securing an additional five years of funding totaling nearly $12 million.