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Spit for Science study hits 40,000 participant milestone
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Spit for Science study hits 40,000 participant milestone

Summary:

Spit for Science samples are helping researchers unlock new insights into childhood physical and mental health.

What’s in a spit sample? For researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), the answer is: a whole lot. Spit for Science, a pioneering population study led by Drs. Jennifer Crosbie and Russell Schachar, recently achieved a jaw-dropping milestone: the collection of 40,000 saliva samples from children and adolescents. 

This long-running collaboration with the Ontario Science Centre, leaders in STEM learning, uses DNA from spit samples to explore how genes and the environment interact to shape children’s physical health and mental well-being. By analyzing genetic and environmental data, researchers aim to develop personalized health-care interventions tailored to the specific needs of patients. This information enhances our understanding of risk factors, the timing and development of diseases, their progression, and more.

A pink splotch with the words "Spit for Science"

Every sample tells a story

Since 2009, the research team has been recruiting “junior scientists” – members of the public – at the Science Centre to build a genetic and environmental database that reflects the rich diversity of Toronto’s youth.  
 
As part of this project, junior scientists were asked to contribute their saliva, complete surveys, play computer games to measure cognitive skills and provide their postal codes to help chart environmental risks, like access to green space or air pollution. Each sample contributes 10 million data points – spanning genomics, environmental factors, physical and mental health, and the oral microbiome – for scientists to decode.  

“We’re identifying gene-environment interactions that contribute to health disparities for children and youth using geospatial data combined with genetic information,” explains Schachar, Psychiatrist, Department of Psychiatry.  

Crosbie, a Psychologist and Senior Scientist in the Neurosciences & Mental Health Program, notes that every sample tells a story: “We’re particularly proud that this study has recruited kids from diverse ancestries and under-represented communities to help address traditional gaps and inequities in genetic studies and ensure that health discoveries are made for all children." 

Building a rich database for future research and collaboration 

Spit for Science has already contributed to almost 20 publications, including identifying specific genetic variants that contribute to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The project has created a rich database of population-based samples that opens new opportunities for collaborations with other researchers, at SickKids and beyond.  

“This is a legacy project that will fuel discoveries for years to come,” says Schachar.  

The study represents a significant contribution to Precision Child Health, a movement at SickKids to deliver individualized care for every patient.  

Crosbie notes: “Large, representative population-based samples like this vital to precision health. We’re incredibly grateful to the thousands of families who helped make this one of the largest studies of its kind in Canada, housed right here at SickKids.”  

The success of Spit for Science, which is no longer recruiting, was made possible through SickKids’ partnership with the Science Centre and thousands of study participants.  

“Spit for Science is more than a study,” says Crosbie. “It’s a leap towards personalized health care for kids everywhere—and a reminder that even small samples can lead to big discoveries.”

Learn more about Spit for Science and the project team's ongoing research.

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