Molecular Epidemiology Resource

Dr. Cerhan's Lymphoma Epidemiology Lab created and maintains the Molecular Epidemiology Resource (MER), a prospective cohort study that supports a variety of epidemiologic and clinical projects. The MER is used by researchers throughout Mayo Clinic and around the world to identify clinical, epidemiologic, host genetic, biologic, tumor, and treatment factors that impact lymphoma outcomes and survivorship.

From Sept. 1, 2002, to June 30, 2015, nearly 7,000 people newly diagnosed with lymphoma at Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, or at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, were enrolled in the MER cohort. Researchers continue to follow up with all participants to understand lymphoma outcomes and survivorship.

In 2015, Dr. Cerhan and his research collaborators received funding from the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) to expand the MER protocol to six more sites, creating the Lymphoma Epidemiology of Outcomes (LEO) Study.

Data collection protocol

All participants in the MER were contacted every six months for the first three years after diagnosis and then annually thereafter to ascertain outcomes and survivorship experience. Disease progression or relapse, re-treatment, transformation and new cancers are validated against medical records.

At enrollment, participants completed a medical history questionnaire, provided a blood specimen for DNA, plasma and serum, and gave consent for researchers to access their medical records. Dr. Cerhan's lab collects participant-reported outcomes and survivorship data through regular follow-ups.

Related study files

Researchers can learn more about the MER study by reviewing these PDF files for study news and questionnaires:

• Molecular Epidemiology Resource Baseline Enrollment questionnaire (PDF)
• Mayo Clinic Study of Lymphoma and Leukemia 3-Year Follow-Up (PDF)
• Mayo Clinic Study of Lymphoma and Leukemia 6-Year Follow-Up (PDF)
• Mayo Clinic Study of Lymphoma and Leukemia 9-Year Follow-Up (PDF)