The American Cancer Society is looking for Roanoke Valley volunteers to help with a long-term, landmark study. Dr. Alpa Patel is principal investigator of the study, which seeks to understand genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors that cause cancer. The study plans to enroll at least 300,000 healthy adults between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer.

Dr. Patel says a meeting this week in Roanoke will help spread the word, and everyone is invited, including those who fall outside the age range or are cancer survivors. The meeting is Thursday, August 16 from 5:30 to 7:30  p.m. at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, 2 Riverside Circle in Roanoke.

Hear more from Dr. Alpa Patel: