Talk About Genes – and We Don’t Mean Trousers

February 22, 2012

The University of Glamorgan in partnership with Tenovus, Wales’ leading cancer charity, is working with children in Penarth to investigate the role that family plays in cancer.

‘Let’s Talk About Genes and I Don’t Mean Trousers’ is a new study led by the Director of the charity’s Cancer Support team Dr Rachel Iredale of the University of Glamorgan.

Funded by a Tenovus Innovation Grant, the project will involve a small team working with a group of 12 and 13-year-olds from Stanwell Secondary School in Penarth.

Over the next three months, the children will take part in some cancer genetics learning using fun activities and games, as well as creative workshops.

The project will culminate in a static art exhibition and a multi-media story focusing on what they think other children their age need to know about cancer and the role that families play. These will be produced by the children, working in creative sessions with the StoryWorks team from the University of Glamorgan.

Dr Iredale, a Reader at the Faculty of Health, Sport & Science said, “Researchers are learning all the time about how our health is affected by our family background and things we inherit from our parents.

“Tenovus would like to find out what young people think about family history (genetics) and health. For example, have they heard of genetics? What type of things do they think we inherit from our parents? What do they know about diet and lifestyle? What do they know about diseases like cancer?

“We are very keen to learn more about what young people think about these topics, and to explore with them the best ways to communicate positive health promotion messages with this age group.”

The project is unique in that it not only uses creative and interactive methods to engage participants and collect valuable data, but it also tests how feasible and acceptable it is to discuss such issues with children.

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