From births to breakthroughs
From 14,500 pregnant women to a unique dataset used across the world, discover what inspired Professor Jean Golding OBE to establish Children of the 90s
In the early 1990s, more than 14,500 pregnant women signed up to take part in a unique study, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Better known as the Children of the 90s this remarkable initiative is a longitudinal birth cohort study and has closely followed the lives of the mothers and their babies to deepen our understanding of how environment and genes impact our health and wellbeing.
As she celebrates her 85th birthday, its founder Professor Jean Golding OBE talks about how the study began, her passion for data science, and the joy she gets from participants. Looking to the future, Principal Investigator, Professor Nic Timpson, shares his ambition for the Children of the 90s and the possibilities available with three generations of research data.
"Today, Children of the 90s provides a treasure trove of data, allowing researchers to address the most pressing health issues of our time: from childhood obesity and liver disease to mental health and cardiovascular disease, plus so much more."
Professor Jean Golding OBE
The birth of Children of the 90s
I’ve been studying the life course my entire working life. Looking back on it over a very long time, the thing that strikes me most is how much the technology of studying the life course has changed.
To start with, I worked on a big project that was the 1958 birth cohort study. Everything that I did was on punch cards. One card was filled in for each participant, depending on the data you collected from the paper questionnaires. You could code information by punching a hole on the outside of the card. You would then put a knitting needle through the holes for the data you wanted and shake, so you’d get a pile of cards you were interested in. You knew your data intimately. I really regret that process having passed and I still, mentally, do something like that.
So that was how I started - my background in terms of data and technology. I did progress to cards that were punched and sorted by machine and, of course, we now end up with a laptop where you can do so much, so quickly. Who’d have thought 50 years ago that that was going to be possible!
Photo caption: Courtesy of OldSchoolCool. 4.5 megabytes of data in 62,500 punched cards, 1955
Photo caption: Courtesy of OldSchoolCool. 4.5 megabytes of data in 62,500 punched cards, 1955
Photo caption: The original recruitment poster for the study targeted expectant mothers
Photo caption: The original recruitment poster for the study targeted expectant mothers
When I first thought of Children of the 90s, we called it ALSPAC which stood for the Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood, as we thought the study would only last for 7 years. As it continued with the children entering primary school, I decided this name was quite wrong, so we quietly changed it to the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. But of course, for most people it is better known as the Children of the 90s. And that has been my life ever since.
Amazingly, there are now three generations of participants taking part. Along with the Children of the 90s and their parents, there’s a new set of babies coming along, who are the Children of the Children of the 90s. There are already 2,500 of these children enrolled in the study.
Photo caption: Mum, Michele Goulden, with Lindsay - the first Children of the 90s' baby
We’re very excited by what our investigations, our data, can tell us. But what happens next? As well as a cohort of thirty-year olds, we can learn more about the health of our original parents who are now in their sixties, to study how ageing affects cognition, hearing and vision over time.
Photo caption: Then and now. Michele and Lindsay with Professor Jean Golding, 30 years after the study started.
Photo caption: Then and now. Michele and Lindsay with Professor Jean Golding, 30 years after the study started.
The future
"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."
Professor Nic Timpson, Principal Investigator of Children of the 90s at the University of Bristol
Jean’s vision and commitment over the decades has always been mirrored by that of our study participants. With great generosity, they are continuing with us on this unique scientific journey to study health and wellbeing. Our most recent clinic saw thousands of participants visit us for a 4 hour detailed clinical assessment. An astonishing amount of data has been collected that is changing what we understand about health and the complex web of biological, social and environmental factors that contribute to it.
Lung disease and liver health are two example areas that our researchers are focused upon. Children of the 90s' data is critical to understanding pathways of disease progression and helps to identify those most at risk. Evidence from our data suggests that up to 1 in 5 individuals may have signs of a fatty liver and 1 in 40 had liver scarring by age 24. This research has helped doctors understand how prevalent liver disease is in young people and how important it is to address this.
Very little is known about healthy adults in their 30s and 40s, in research terms. So Children of the 90s can help to fill this ‘evidence gap’. Who will show early signs of future illness and disease – the when and why? How can we use these insights to offer a better, more preventative model of medicine? It’s a busy, important stage of life for our participants, many of whom are now parents themselves, undergoing the stresses and strains of pregnancy, birth and family life.
Data science has moved on in so many ways. Working with our participants, we now follow our participants’ health and lives outside our clinic, using wearable trackers, loyalty card data, smartphones and head cameras. By monitoring their lifestyle and health in different ways - all of which are safe and easy - we can discover so much more about all our health. What we eat, what we are buying, how our moods change during the day. Each of these elements can improve what we know about health.
"The work ALSPAC is doing across generations is unique and very valuable. The fact that the UK has these great longitudinal studies and that we can harness them now for understanding the impacts of a new disease is something that will help inform the world," a statement of support during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2021), from the now UK Science Minister, Lord Vallance
The breakthroughs
Thanks to our wonderful participants, staff and researchers across the world, we’ve been able to show the benefits to a developing child when their mother eats fish during pregnancy.
In the early '90s our research into the safety of baby sleeping positions helped support the government led ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign and during the COVID-19 pandemic, our data fed directly into government policy due to our unique access to thousands of participants experiencing asymptomatic cases, long COVID and the effects on their physical and mental health.
Children of the 90s has contributed to more than 3,000 research papers leading to many important findings. These discoveries cover all aspects of health and wellbeing from eczema, body weight and child development to autism, mental health and pregnancy.
“I have been part of the study my whole life - I remember filling out the questionnaires with my mum on the couch when I was younger. I think it is a really important thing to be part of - if it can help give researchers an insight into diseases and mental health that's awesome!” Oliver
Recent discoveries
Liver disease
One in five young people now shows signs of fatty liver disease. Studying healthy young people helps make the connection to obesity and alcohol consumption - and look at new ways to prevent it.
Picky eaters
A study of children's diets provides reassurance for parents and carers, presenting evidence that a child’s fussy eating is unlikely to have any lasting impact on their health and development.
Pre-eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia affects millions of women worldwide. With little knowledge about the condition Children of the 90s' data is looking at the link with future heart conditions, and what can be done to prevent it.
Discover more
Take part in Children of the 90s
Do you want to help us deliver ground-breaking research? If you or your child were born in Bristol or surrounding areas in April 1991- December 1992, you could be eligible to take part.
Explore Children of the 90s data
ALSPAC is a unique resource for studying health, wellbeing and social science - we have 30 years of longitudinal data, biological samples, environmental, genetic and linkage data.
Interested in more data?
The Jean Golding Institute is a central hub for data-intensive research. It goes beyond Children of the 90s to connect a multidisciplinary community across the University and beyond.
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