Science needs you, and your family
How do genetics, lifestyle, and the environment contribute to health and disease? How are protective and risk factors for health passed from generation to generation? What accounts for health differences within families and across communities?
These are big, important questions, and the University of Minnesota is looking for 10,000 families from communities across the state of Minnesota to help answer them.
Led by a team of researchers from the School of Public Health and the Medical School, the 10,000 Families Study aims to increase understanding of what causes or protects against disease by following the health of these families over time.
“The goal is to improve the health of future generations,” says Principal Investigator Logan Spector, PhD, professor and director of Epidemiology and Clinical Research in the Department of Pediatrics.
All families are welcome
At least two family members are required for a family to participate in the study. The first to enroll must be at least 18 old and live in Minnesota. Additional family members may live in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin and may be under the age of 18. Non-blood relatives such as adoptive and stepfamily members are welcome, too.
The study requires participants to complete an initial health questionnaire online, attend a health visit (currently on hold due to COVID-19), and provide health updates every two years. As a thank-you from the study, each participant is entered into a drawing for a $250 Amazon gift card after completing their health questionnaire.
To learn more and/or join the study, visit the 10,000 Families Study website at 10kfs.umn.edu, or email [email protected], or contact Study Coordinator Andrea Hickle, MPH, at [email protected].
—Kristine Mortensen, editor
News
The election of UMRA officers and new board members for 2024–25 will be conducted via an online poll from May 13 to 19, with the results to be announced at our annual meeting on May 21. Look for the ballot in your email inbox on May 13. Diane Young has been nominated to be president-elect.
“I convinced myself I could handle this problem without support groups or doing additional research, but that’s only because I didn’t want to make it any more real than it already was. Denial comes in many forms, and one is to avoid thinking about the problem any more than need be.” —Alice A. Larson
Meet UMRA member Peter Moe. He retired in 2023 after a career that spanned nearly half a century at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and is credited with developing the “Arb” into one of the few in the U.S. with world-class fruit and landscape breeding programs.
The University Retirees Volunteer Center (URVC) has welcomed two new members with valuable skills and experience to the URVC Leadership Council: Lynn Slifer and Jeanne Jacobson.
The University plans to remove retirees from the @umn.edu internet identity domain on December 7. UMRA has advocated for ensuring continued access to this identity (including email, Google Workspace, and associated services), citing University retirees’ enduring contributions to and engagement with the University. Thus far, our efforts have not prompted any change of plans.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to explore your photographic interests, hone your photographic skills, and hear what other retirees are up to, the UMRA Photo Club is a great place to be. We have fun! And whatever your skill level, there is room for everybody.
Leading the online Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays has been a labor of love for Kris Bettin. Alas, a change in family needs has necessitated her retirement. So, JOIE is seeking a new leader to join a savvy editorial committee of five and bring fresh ideas for continued development of the UMRA-sponsored journal.
Soon you will receive an email or letter inviting you to renew your UMRA membership for the 2024–25 year. Please renew before you get busy with your summer activities. Your support helps to make our programs and many other member benefits possible!
This will be a new regular column where you can find organizational tasks that need your help! We are currently looking for help researching a new UMRA Membership Database and URVC volunteer database, and a co-producer for UMRA's Zoom webinars. See more details: