A ‘world-first’ child health study by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) launched at Werribee Mercy Hospital has reached a milestone of about 60,000 participants.
Gen V, the study, will track the health and wellbeing of victorians from childbirth, to better understand and treat causes of modern health problems, such as asthma, autism, food allergies, mental illness and obesity.
MCRI director professor Kathryn North said the ‘significant milestone’ brings GenV’s momentum into clear focus.
“12 months ago, we invited our first families to join the program,” she said.
“Next month we celebrate 1 year since GenV state wide scale up and we are now the largest ever consented baby and parent cohort research study undertaken in Australia.”
The program was launched at Werribee Mercy Hospital in 2021 and aims to reflect the diversity of Victorian families, recruiting participants from across 65 languages, including Auslan.
“Mercy Health is proud to be part of such exciting research which will comprehensively track the
health and wellbeing of a generation of Victorians, from infancy to old age,” Mercy Health, chief executive health services, professor Jason Payne said.
“The enlistment and input of our staff and patients at Mercy Hospital for Women and Werribee
Mercy Hospital will help to make predictions, find solutions and treatments for health-related
problems for children and the adults they will become.”
The GenV Maternal Vaccine Study also recently secured a $685,000 state government grant, which will examine data on pregnancy and infant vaccine safety outcomes in the first-year old life for 20,000 mothers and their babies.
Every family with a newborn baby is invited to join over a two-year period from October 2021, no
matter where they live or what language they speak.
Participants can join the program in person during their hospital stay or any time after birth via a guided online process.
Details: www.genv.org.au/
