RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Design, methods and demographics from phase I of Alberta's Tomorrow Project cohort: a prospective cohort profile JF CMAJ Open FD Canadian Medical Association SP E515 OP E527 DO 10.9778/cmajo.20160005 VO 4 IS 3 A1 Paula J. Robson A1 Nathan M. Solbak A1 Tiffany R. Haig A1 Heather K. Whelan A1 Jennifer E. Vena A1 Alianu K. Akawung A1 William K. Rosner A1 Darren R. Brenner A1 Linda S. Cook A1 Ilona Csizmadi A1 Karen A. Kopciuk A1 S. Elizabeth McGregor A1 Christine M. Friedenreich YR 2016 UL http://www.cmajopen.ca/content/4/3/E515.abstract AB Background: Prospective cohorts have the potential to support multifactorial, health-related research, particularly if they are drawn from the general population, incorporate active and passive follow-up and permission is obtained to allow access by researchers to data repositories. This paper describes Phase I of the Alberta's Tomorrow Project cohort, a broad-based research platform designed to support investigations into factors that influence cancer and chronic disease risk.Methods: Adults aged 35-69 years living in Alberta, Canada, with no previous cancer diagnosis other than nonmelanoma skin cancer were recruited to the project by telephone-based random digit dialling. Participants were enrolled if they returned a Health and Lifestyle Questionnaire. Past year diet and physical activity questionnaires were mailed 3 months after enrolment. Consent was sought for active follow-up and linkage with administrative databases. Depending on enrolment date, participants were invited to complete up to 2 follow-up questionnaires (2004 and 2008).Results: Between 2001 and 2009, 31 072 (39% men) participants (mean age 50.2 [± 9.2] yr) were enrolled and 99% consented to linkage with administrative databases. Participants reported a wide range of educational attainment and household income. Compared with provincial surveillance data from the Canadian Community Health Survey, Alberta's Tomorrow Project participants had higher body mass index, lower prevalence of smoking and similar distribution of chronic health conditions. Follow-up questionnaires were completed by 83% and 72% of participants in 2004 and 2008, respectively. Robust quality control measures resulted in low frequencies of missing data.Interpretation: Alberta's Tomorrow Project provides a robust platform, based on a prospective cohort design, to support research into risk factors for cancer and chronic disease.