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Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Harvard will destroy 1.5million samples that could hold the key to stopping colon cancer epidemic
Fifty years of Harvard research is set to be flushed down the toilet. Since 1976, the university has collected more than 1.5million samples of human feces, urine, toenails, saliva, hair and blood from people for scientific research, allowing them to track how bodies change over time. Researchers behind the project say it could reveal key mutations that lead to cancer or habits that could help someone live longer. Dr Walter Willet, a physician who has been with the project since 1977, said the collection could also be a treasure trove of information on the reasons for the colon cancer surge in young people. But now, all of these possibilities are set to be lost after three grants to support the project — worth $5million per year — were cut by the Trump administration. Dr Willet has managed to secure emergency funding from Harvard for the collection but says this could run out within weeks. If more funds aren't raised, he said, then it's likely that the collection will be packed into plastic biohazard bags and shipped off to an incinerator — along with the valuable information it contains. 'We can't let that happen,' Dr Willit told 'we are working hard to make sure the resources are not lost'. The database — called the Harvard biorepository — holds samples from more than 200,000 women and men who took part in Harvard-led studies. This includes participants in the Nurses Health Study, 121,000 women tracked since 1976, and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, tracking 51,000 men since 1986. For both studies, participants were asked to fill in bi-annual surveys on their diet, exercise and health — allowing researchers to detect factors that may raise someone's risk of suffering from a disease like cancer. More than 10,000 participants have already died, but scientists are continuing to carry out the surveys on those who are alive — some over 95 years old — hoping to detect hidden clues to longevity. Since 1982, the researchers have also been collecting biological samples from the participants to add further data to their project. From the Nurses Health Study, the database currently holds 62,000 toenail clippings, 50,000 urine samples, 30,000 saliva samples, 20,000 hair samples and more than 16,000 samples of feces collected between 1982 and 2019. It also holds an estimated 1.5million blood samples from more than 30,000 participants, and tissue samples from 16 cancers that emerged in participants during the study. From the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, it includes blood samples from more than 18,000 participants and more than 1,700 samples of tissue from cancers including prostate cancer. The Nurses Health Study has already resulted in the publication of more than 400 cancer-related studies, nearly 300 projects and participation in 33 cancer consortia. Top studies include a 2007 paper that found higher levels of inflammation-linked proteins in the blood raised the risk of colon cancer, and a 2004 paper that found people with higher levels of vitamin D in their blood had a lower risk of colon cancer. There are also early studies into the gut microbiomes of participants based on analysis of stool samples collected from 2019. While it is still too soon for these to reveal reasons for the surge in colon cancer cases, they hold promise Other notable findings include a 2003 paper that found postmenopausal women with higher estrogen levels had a higher risk of breast cancer. And a 1995 analysis of toenail clippings that suggested people with lower levels of selenium in their diets — a nutrient found in nuts — may have a higher risk of lung cancer, although this was later disputed by other research. Data from the studies' questionnaires has also been used in recent years to suggest that suggests a diet high in red meat could raise the risk of type 2 diabetes. And studies that linked a higher consumption of trans fats — a type of fat that influences cholesterol and that is used in cookies, pies and other bakery products — to a higher risk of coronary heart disease. The work was instrumental in the 2018 FDA ban on hydrogenated oils — which are used to make trans fats — in the US. The samples are stored in up to 60 large cylindrical freezers that are five-foot tall by five-foot wide housed in two locations at Harvard. It is split across two locations to protect the collection in case of an incident like a fire. The toenails and hair are not frozen because they do not degrade easily, Dr Willit said, meaning they are comparatively easy to store. But the rest of the collection is kept in the freezers that constantly have liquid nitrogen pumped through them — which has a temperature of -320F (-196C) — to preserve the samples. Running the freezers alone costs about $300,000 a year, Dr Willit said. The team receives several dozen requests a year for access to the collection from scientists, he added. In response, samples are either shipped to the scientists or the team undertakes the research in their lab and sends the scientists the results. Researchers are also constantly adding to the collection, collecting cancer samples from patients when the disease emerges and new data via surveys. So far, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in New York has agreed to offer funding to preserve the cancer samples from the Nurses Health Study. It is not clear how long this funding will last. But Dr Willit says they are continuing to avidly seek backers for the samples in the rest of the collection. The database was supported by three federal grants from the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. It comes amid a mammoth battle between the Trump administration and Harvard University, that has seen more than $3billion in grants cut from America's wealthiest institution. In the latest salvo, a federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's effort to keep Harvard from hosting foreign students — who make up approximately 27 percent of its student body. The administration has repeatedly accused the university of doing too little to fight anti-semitism on its campuses and to stem pro-Palestine protests that disrupted some classes in 2024 and 2025.
Telegraph
06-04-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Why chores are good for children
Is there a parent left in Britain who hasn't watched Adolescence? The national conversation ever since has skirted around how to improve children's wellbeing and ensure they remain part of the family unit as they grow. But recently highlighted research suggests we're often overlooking one obvious solution: give them something useful to do. Rather than allowing them to slope off into cyberspace, longitudinal studies suggest that giving children household chores from an early age can lead to better child mental health, more engagement with the family, and kids who turn into better balanced adults. But could reconnection really be as simple as giving children greater responsibilities at home? Paediatrician Dr Rebecca Scharf, who led a study of kindergarten and third grade children at University of Virginia Medical School is convinced that it is. 'Children who did chores were more likely to report positive peer relationships, making friends easily, and being easy to like,' she says. 'In addition, those with regular chores displayed social behaviours such as helping classmates and working to cheer up peers.' Parents who do encourage chores are in good company. It's long been reported that the Prince and Princess of Wales expect their children to help around the house, though last year William admitted that they often forget to clean out the guinea pig cage, leaving him to do it. 'It's helpful for children to see their roles as meaningful contributors,' confirms Dr Scharf. 'The responsibility, persistence and attention to detail they learn in small tasks also helps them as they go on to learn larger tasks.' A landmark 85-year multigenerational study from Harvard Research discovered a significant link between doing household tasks in childhood and personal and professional happiness in adulthood. Researchers found that household responsibilities also helped children to develop better self-esteem and confidence, as well as a stronger work ethic and greater empathy. Even from an early age, putting toys away, laying the table or making the bed encourages children to recognise their own capabilities. A further study from Australia's La Trobe University also found that chores involving motor skills like cooking or gardening were particularly beneficial, boosting memory and focus and even supporting brain development. 'Although children might not respond positively to every chore they're set, they will receive the long-term benefits,' agrees Dr Georgia Chronaki, Senior Lecturer in Developmental Neuroscience at the University of Central Lancashire. But parents must be careful to praise the effort more than the result to encourage further attempts, and avoid fostering perfectionism, she adds. 'Over time, the habit of doing chores will reinforce a 'can do' attitude and positively impact other areas of their life.' Skills and competence When I was a single parent raising my son, many years ago, I was wary of burdening him with 'adult' jobs – I wanted him to relax after school, but in retrospect, it seems I should have been stricter. 'Children are more capable than you think,' says Dr Chronaki. 'A two-year-old can match up socks, a four-year-old can unload the washing machine, and a 12-year-old can wash the car.' Sacking the cleaner and giving a young child a dust-buster may not be that smart, but Dr Scharf advises that children of all ages can help around the home. 'They can gain skills and competence contributing to their families as early as toddlerhood, helping to pick up toys, or carrying things from the table,' she says. 'In small ways, children can be taught that they are a valuable part of their households and have something to contribute.' Educational psychologist Dr Patricia Britto offers the caveat that 'chores must never replace play, learning, or rest. They should be developmentally appropriate and framed as part of shared family life, not imposed as punishments or expectations of perfection,' she warns. 'I always encourage parents to consider why they're assigning the task. If the aim is to build a sense of contribution and routine, that's a strong foundation. If it's to manage stress or shift adult responsibilities onto children, that can veer into unfair territory.' More than tasks Whether parents pay children or not is less relevant to the outcome, though a survey by the finance company Go Henry found that 77 per cent of their young users earned pocket money this way. It's understandable that some parents are excessively wary of exploiting children who are already navigating school, friendships, demanding hobbies, health or family issues. But helping will not hinder their growth or compromise their happiness, promises Britto. 'Chores are far more than domestic tasks,' she insists. 'They're learning opportunities that support emotional well-being, independence, and a strong sense of belonging.' Navit Schecter, 45, a CBT therapist from Cornwall, agrees: 'My nine-year-old's job is to put the washing up away when it's dry. She also helps out with other jobs when needed, like tidying the lounge or helping to hang the washing. Sometimes, there will be a moan when I ask her to do it, but no more so than brushing her teeth. She knows that by helping look after the house there's more time for us to do nice things together.' Of course, this is all very well until your child refuses, wanders off, throws a tantrum, or simply does their task so badly it ensures you'll never ask again. 'Some children may resist doing chores at times, particularly if they're tired, overwhelmed, or unsure of what's required,' confirms Dr Britto. 'I advise parents to avoid turning it into a power struggle. Instead, explain why the task matters – 'We all live here, so we all help look after our space'.' Start them young Offering limited choices, such as 'Would you rather feed the cat or put away your clean clothes?' also gives children a sense of control while keeping expectations clear, she points out. 'In psychology, we often refer to scaffolding. Supporting a child just enough to help them succeed, then gradually stepping back. That's precisely how chores should be introduced.' A happy seven-year-old helping out, however, is a far cry from a despairing 14-year-old trailing round the house, sighing like an autumn gale. 'Teens might not respond positively to being asked to do household chores - they often moan or try to get out of them,' agrees Anita Cleare, author of How to Get Your Teenager Out of Their Bedroom. 'Often, the main problem is that parents keep doing those tasks for them, because it's easier and quicker if we do things ourselves.' It may be frustrating, she adds, but step back. 'Often, children don't do their chores to the standards we would like. It takes time to teach them how to load a dishwasher or use a washing machine, but they do get better with practice.' That's why it's such a good idea to start them young – and if you haven't, take the time to explain why the task needs doing, then make sure to offer encouragement and praise. Even surly teens enjoy hearing they've done a good job. 'Chores really do contribute to building children's self-esteem,' says Dr Chronaki. 'Positive self-esteem underpins good mental health – and makes children more resilient to life's ups and downs.'
