ALSPAC Focus @ 24+ Clinic
Research type
Research Study
Full title
ALSPAC Focus at 24+ Version 1
IRAS ID
162562
Contact name
Paul Burton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 1 months, 31 days
Research summary
The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is one of the most detailed birth cohort studies ever conducted. It has gathered information and biological samples from mothers, their partners and their children (original children) since pregnancy throughout childhood and adolescence to the present day when at age 24 the participants are in early adulthood. More recently the study has been extended to include the children, siblings and grandparents of these original children. Human development, health and disease are affected by both genetic and environmental factors. ALSPAC has created a resource that scientists can use to explore the links between these factors. There is a dramatic increase in conditions that develop in childhood and have severe long−term effects such as diabetes and obesity. Such problems tend to run in families and have a genetic component and yet it is only environmental factors that can account for these changes. Therefore the DNA resource provides a unique opportunity to study genetic interactions with environmental exposures. In addition, ALSPAC can help identify the environmental conditions that can be changed in order to reduce such problems for future generations. The participants will be 24 years old when they attend the Focus @ 24+ clinic. This will be the tenth clinic to which the ALSPAC original children have been invited for behavioural/physical assessments. Focus @ 24+ will not only answer specific scientific questions but further enhance the value of ALSPAC as a scientific resource.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SW/1173
Date of REC Opinion
24 Feb 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion