Thanks to the Medical Research Council (MRC), Wellcome and the University of Bristol, the funding will allow researchers to carry on the work of Jean Golding, Emeritus Professor of Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology.  Professor Golding began Children of the 90s in the early 1990s by recruiting almost 80% of pregnant women from Bristol and its surrounding areas to take part in the health study. 

Since then, the project has tracked the health and development of those 14,500 babies from birth and into adulthood. The new funding will allow researchers to continue collecting and analysing health data and samples from the study’s participants.

To date, 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. Recent findings include:

• Research suggesting that one in five young people now shows signs of fatty liver disease and one in 40 young people may have liver scarring. As healthy young people are rarely studied, doctors only now understand how common this condition is - caused largely by obesity and alcohol consumption - and can look at ways to prevent it.

• One reassuring discovery for parents and carers of picky eaters was provided by a study of children’s diets. The study presented evidence that while a child’s fussy eating is often worrying, it is unlikely to have any lasting impact on their health and development.

• Pre-eclampsia affects millions of women worldwide, yet little is understood about the condition. For the first time, using Children of the 90s data, researchers now hope to learn whether the condition is associated with future heart problems for mother or baby, and if so, what can be done to prevent it.

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 the 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."

Last autumn, the study 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.

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.   

Email info@childrenofthe90s.ac.uk to play your part in groundbreaking medical research.