Canadian Health Measures Survey: Biobank

Catalogue number: Catalogue number: 11-629-x

Release date: May 2015
Canadian Health Measures Survey Video: Biobank - Transcript

Description of visuals

The Canadian Health Measures Survey is an innovative, direct health-measures survey developed in partnership with Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Since 2007, Statistics Canada has conducted the survey to address important data gaps and limitations in existing health information.

(An electrocardiogram shows dips and spikes on the screen, simulating a heartbeat. These transform into the initialism "CHMS" (Canadian Health Measures Survey). The electrocardiogram's grid expands, and the background colour changes to light blue. The camera moves away slowly, and reveals a horizontal 3D image of a survey. As the camera moves backwards, the audience sees the survey, now in a vertical position, with checkmarks and Xes inside check boxes. The camera reaches the bottom of the page. The camera changes focus to reveal the survey's title: "Health Measures Survey". The camera pans left to show a Canadian flag. Written underneath it are "Health Canada" and "Public Health Agency of Canada". The camera zooms in slowly to focus on the names of these organizations. These words fade out as the words, Statistics Canada, fade in. Red data bars rise from the bottom to the top of the screen, and fill it completely. The camera zooms out from the red to reveal a researcher holding and looking at both a vile and a dropper filled with a red liquid. The camera zooms out again to show another researcher holding and looking at two round containers filled with organic samples.)

This survey provides researchers with an opportunity to access biospecimens to inform their research and to gain a better understanding of the health of the Canadian population. The survey uses mobile clinics to collect physical measures data, such as height, weight and blood pressure. Blood and urine samples are also collected at the clinic for laboratory analysis. Some of the samples collected are stored in the survey biobank for future research. The biobank enables researchers to further explore the health of Canadians by comparing results of the laboratory analysis with the survey data already collected.

(The frame slides to the left, and the next scene slides along with it. The audience will see an image of a CHMS biobank clinic/trailer. It will also see other out-of-focus images in the background. The CHMS biobank clinic/trailer rotates to the right. Rotating from the left, animated blood cells are in front view. Blood cells rotate to the back, and a microscope rotates in front view. The microscope rotates to the left, and an animated DNA strand is now in the front. The DNA strands moves to the back, and an image of researchers looking at a computer screen comes into view.)

Researchers who would like access to the biospecimens must complete a detailed application form. Applications are reviewed by the survey staff and a biobank advisory committee. Once the researchers provide proof of funding and receive approval from a research ethics board, Statistics Canada gives the research proposals final approval.

(The camera quickly zooms out of the eye of a researcher. A picture of three researchers is on an application form laying on a table. A hand appears and writes: "Biobank application. Research to help Canadians" on the form. A hand with a magnifying glass hovers over the application form. The camera rotates gently to reveal a hand holding a stamp, as it moves downward to stamp the word "Approved" on the application form. A second hand holding a stamp, once again, stamps the word "Approved". An open hand swipes the paper away. The table swivels out of view.)

Researchers are responsible for ensuring that the lab they use to analyze these biospecimens meets the security and confidentiality requirements of Statistics Canada.

(An image of a laboratory rotates into view. The camera travels backwards to reveal a researcher looking through a microscope. Heavy vault doors close and lock the laboratory. The camera travels backwards revealing a high-security room and security gates closing.)

The following information can be found on the CHMS website: biobank application forms; survey documentation for approved biobank research projects; a list of other available CHMS documentation; and contact information for general CHMS or biobank-related questions.

(The gates reopen and, inside, the audience sees a computer desk, a computer screen and speakers. The camera moves towards the computer screen, and the CHMS website (www.statcan.gc.ca/chms) appears. The words "Biobank application forms" appear in front of this link. The words move right on the computer screen to reveal the following words "Survey documentation." Then, the camera moves closer to the front of the screen to reveal the words "CHMS documentation". Then, the words move quickly to the left, displaying the website's name "www.statcan.gc.ca/chms". A mouse cursor appears and clicks the website link. The CHMS website opens, and the cursor then clicks the top part of the page, and drags the window down to reveal the next scene.)

Statistics Canada encourages all interested researchers to apply for exclusive access to the samples in the biobank, so that this valuable resource is put to its best use: research that contributes to the health of Canadians.

(The camera moves back to reveal researchers working. The camera, still moving back, focuses on an image of doctors and a nurse, a business man, a couple of ladies and a child. The CHMS website address then appears in front of these people, and hovers over the image of a Canadian flag. The screen fades to black, except for the website address, which moves to the centre of the screen. The image fades into the Canada wordmark against a black background.)

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