The Generation R Study: design and cohort update 2017

TLDR

The study aims to identify early environmental and genetic causes and causal pathways that influence normal and abnormal growth, development, and health from fetal life through young adulthood. It is a population‑based prospective cohort enrolling 9,778 mothers (2002–2006) and following children and parents with questionnaires, physical and ultrasound examinations, imaging, and biological sampling to assess environmental, endocrine, genomic, lifestyle, nutritional, and socio‑demographic exposures across multiple health outcomes. Results from the cohort are used to develop strategies for optimizing health and healthcare for pregnant women and children.

Abstract

The Generation R Study is a population-based prospective cohort study from fetal life until adulthood. The study is designed to identify early environmental and genetic causes and causal pathways leading to normal and abnormal growth, development and health from fetal life, childhood and young adulthood. This multidisciplinary study focuses on several health outcomes including behaviour and cognition, body composition, eye development, growth, hearing, heart and vascular development, infectious disease and immunity, oral health and facial growth, respiratory health, allergy and skin disorders of children and their parents. Main exposures of interest include environmental, endocrine, genomic (genetic, epigenetic, microbiome), lifestyle related, nutritional and socio-demographic determinants. In total, 9778 mothers with a delivery date from April 2002 until January 2006 were enrolled in the study. Response at baseline was 61%, and general follow-up rates until the age of 10 years were around 80%. Data collection in children and their parents includes questionnaires, interviews, detailed physical and ultrasound examinations, behavioural observations, lung function, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and biological sampling. Genome and epigenome wide association screens are available. Eventually, results from the Generation R Study contribute to the development of strategies for optimizing health and healthcare for pregnant women and children.