Children of the 90s has been awarded £5.2 million to continue its pioneering work to improve people’s health.

Thanks to the Medical Research Council (MRC), Wellcome and the University of Bristol, the funding will allow our researchers to carry on the work of Jean Golding, Emeritus Professor of Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology.  

Comments from our Children of the 90s community:

Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, said: “As one of the largest, longest-running population studies in the world, Children of the 90s is unique for the depth of its health data. A treasure trove of information, it continues to inform what we know, shaping public health guidelines and improving maternal and child health.

“Thanks to renewed support, researchers can continue to collect data from Children of the 90s participants to improve the health and wellbeing of current and future generations.”

Professor Nic Timpson, Principal Investigator of Children of the 90s at the University of Bristol, added: “This is great news for science and a huge credit to the families from Bristol and beyond who have contributed so much. Longitudinal studies across three generations which have data from pregnancy onwards are rare and Children of the 90s is an outstanding example of participant-led, life course research.

“Looking forward, we will continue studying the factors that shape our health across diverse areas such as genetics, fertility, obesity, child development and the effect of climate on health and wellbeing.”

Around half of our original Children of the 90s’ participants are still in touch with researchers, and many are now starting families of their own. More than 2,000 children of the Children of the 90s (known as COCO90s) have now enrolled into the study and more are being born and joining every week.

Michele Pilgrim, the first mother to sign up to Children of the 90s in 1991, explained: “As the mother of a participant of Children of the 90s, I have felt it a privilege to take part in such an important study, one that will without doubt help improve the health of children in the next generation and beyond. I have enjoyed taking part in various studies myself as my own health has always been important to me and I will be happy to continue to participate for as long as necessary.”

Professor Patrick Chinnery, Executive Chair of the Medical Research Council (MRC), said: “Children of the 90s is one of the world’s leading birth cohort studies which we have supported since the very first mothers and babies were recruited over 30 years ago. We eagerly continue our support as the cohort studies the next generation, and anticipate many more invaluable insights into how environmental and genetic factors affect a person’s health and development.”

Christiane Hertz-Fowler, Head of Directed Activity in Discovery Research at Wellcome, added: “The size, scope and depth of data gathered by Children of the 90s is invaluable. Generating new discoveries and insights into health, the project continues to be highly influential. There are few examples of long-term population health studies that can demonstrate the same level of impact in improving public health.

“Wellcome has supported the project since its inception more than 30 years ago. We are delighted to renew our funding for Children of the 90s as the cohort continues to develop and recruit the next generation into the study. Their work matches our ambition for discovery research, taking a long-term view to answer the questions that will advance our understanding of life, health and wellbeing."

New location

In October 2024, we moved to a new home in the University of Bristol’s Learning & Research Building based at Southmead Hospital, part of North Bristol NHS Trust, helping researchers and clinicians to collaborate more closely. The hospital’s research midwives are also crucial in gathering data and samples as more babies arrive and take part in the study.

For participants:

Children of the 90s is calling on people born from April 1991 to December 1992 in the Avon area to get back in touch. It does not matter if you have not been part of the study for years, you can still participate. Children of the 90s would particularly like to speak with parents or those with a baby on the way to form part of the COCO90s study.  Simply visit our the main ALSPAC Contacts page.

For researchers:

The more science is conducted, the more valuable the resource is. If you have a research question you think we can help with please don't hesitate to get in touch, either by emailing ALSPAC's Principal Investigator, Professor Nic Timpson (n.j.timpson@bristol.ac.uk), or by checking the main ALSPAC Contacts page.