The Generation R Study: Biobank Update 2015

Overview

Journal Eur J Epidemiol

Specialty Public Health

Date 2014 Dec 21

PMID 25527369

Citations 121

Authors

Claudia J Kruithof

Marjolein N Kooijman

Cornelia M Van Duijn

Oscar H Franco

Johan C de Jongste

Caroline C W Klaver

Johan P Mackenbach

Henriette A Moll

Hein Raat

Edmond H H M Rings

Fernando Rivadeneira

Eric A P Steegers

Henning Tiemeier

Andre G Uitterlinden

Frank C Verhulst

Eppo B Wolvius

Albert Hofman

Vincent W V Jaddoe

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

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. In total, 9,778 mothers were enrolled in the study. Data collection in children and their parents include questionnaires, interviews, detailed physical and ultrasound examinations, behavioural observations, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and biological samples. Efforts have been conducted for collecting biological samples including blood, hair, faeces, nasal swabs, saliva and urine samples and generating genomics data on DNA, RNA and microbiome. In this paper, we give an update of the collection, processing and storage of these biological samples and available measures. Together with detailed phenotype measurements, these biological samples provide a unique resource for epidemiological studies focused on environmental exposures, genetic and genomic determinants and their interactions in relation to growth, health and development from fetal life onwards.

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