Born in Scotland in the 2020s - Pilot study
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Centre for Cardiovascular Science
Abstract
Pregnancy offers a unique opportunity to positively impact on short- and long-term health outcomes of both the mother and baby and thus to influence the health of the next generation. In this study, we aim to conduct a pilot study to demonstrate the feasibility of establishing a large population study of 100,000 pregnant women and their children, recruited from across the whole of Scotland. The pilot study will pave the way for a new "Born in Scotland in the 2020s" cohort which will gather and safely store routinely collected clinical, health and social data from hospitals, schools and others sources. This confidential data will then be then anonymised so that individual participants cannot be identified before data analysis. We will also store blood and urine samples which are left over and normally thrown away after they have been used for diagnostic purposes. We will link these samples to the other data to establish a unique bioresource which can be used to identify new biomarkers for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Our study will allow us to understand the links between early life experiences and later ill health and to identify novel targets for intervention to improve outcomes for pregnant women and their children. The rich and extensive data collected will be a valuable and sustainable resource for researchers in the field.
Technical Summary
We aim to conduct a pilot study to demonstrate the feasibility of establishing the proposed "Born in Scotland in the 2020s" population cohort of 100,000 pregnant women and their children in Scotland, including extensive data linkage from mothers, fathers and children linked to a bioresource. We plan an efficient study design by capitalising on routine data and biological sample collection. The cohort will be a sustainable resource to address fundamental and contemporaneous questions in our understanding of the drivers of long-term maternal and child health, including pregnancy and its complications.
ROUTINE CLINICAL AND HEALTH SERVICE will be used to record details of:
a) socio-demographic, medical and obstetric history
b) details of the current pregnancy including laboratory results, fetal ultrasound scans, pregnancy complications
c) birth outcomes
d) healthcare usage
BIOSAMPLES will be stored and banked for future use, utilising the well-established Scottish National Health Services Research Scotland (NRS) Biorepositories which enable storage of surplus samples which would otherwise be discarded after clinical use.
LONG-TERM FOLLOW UP will be through prospective and retrospective record linkage of mothers, fathers and children using the Scottish Community Health Index (CHI) unique personal identifier to relevant health and healthcare databases, for example primary and secondary care and educational attainment.
We bring together a multidisciplinary team with expertise in epidemiology, birth cohorts, life-course health, obstetric medicine, neonatology, biobanking, data science, clinical trials, public health and patient, public involvement. Together our research addresses the mechanisms, causes, consequences, optimal management of pregnancy, its complications and the long term health for mothers and their children giving us the skills and knowledge to develop a flexible, dynamic and sustainable resource, "Born in Scotland in the 2020s".
ROUTINE CLINICAL AND HEALTH SERVICE will be used to record details of:
a) socio-demographic, medical and obstetric history
b) details of the current pregnancy including laboratory results, fetal ultrasound scans, pregnancy complications
c) birth outcomes
d) healthcare usage
BIOSAMPLES will be stored and banked for future use, utilising the well-established Scottish National Health Services Research Scotland (NRS) Biorepositories which enable storage of surplus samples which would otherwise be discarded after clinical use.
LONG-TERM FOLLOW UP will be through prospective and retrospective record linkage of mothers, fathers and children using the Scottish Community Health Index (CHI) unique personal identifier to relevant health and healthcare databases, for example primary and secondary care and educational attainment.
We bring together a multidisciplinary team with expertise in epidemiology, birth cohorts, life-course health, obstetric medicine, neonatology, biobanking, data science, clinical trials, public health and patient, public involvement. Together our research addresses the mechanisms, causes, consequences, optimal management of pregnancy, its complications and the long term health for mothers and their children giving us the skills and knowledge to develop a flexible, dynamic and sustainable resource, "Born in Scotland in the 2020s".
Publications
Beaumont R
(2023)
Genome-wide association study of placental weight identifies distinct and shared genetic influences between placental and fetal growth
in Nature Genetics
Lee T
(2023)
Automated Insulin Delivery in Women with Pregnancy Complicated by Type 1 Diabetes
in New England Journal of Medicine
Mclennan N
(2023)
Impact of COVID-19 on gestational diabetes pregnancy outcomes in the UK : A multicentre retrospective cohort study
in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Thompson W
(2024)
Maternal plasma cortisol's effect on offspring birth weight: a Mendelian Randomisation study
in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Tobias DK
(2023)
Second international consensus report on gaps and opportunities for the clinical translation of precision diabetes medicine.
in Nature medicine
Wilson CA
(2023)
Child educational progress in Born in Bradford pregnancies affected by gestational diabetes and also exposed to maternal common mental disorders.
in Scientific reports
Description | Collaboration with Elixir Birth cohort |
Organisation | King's College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | As CI of Born in Scotland I have been invited to attend the Elixir working group meetings. This has been a good opportunity to share knowledge about the set up of the cohort and to understand the lessons learned by the Elixir group. There is also an opportunity to discuss options for joint projects. |
Collaborator Contribution | As above, this is a forum for discussion about shared problems e.g. how to access data, and to discuss common areas for collaboration on joint projects. |
Impact | Joint application to Medical Research Council for a grant (led by Sinaed Brophy in Cardiff) |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | BBC news article about rates of C Section in Scotland |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | One of the study team members was interviewed by a journalist about the high rates of Caesarean Section in Scotland compared to England. She mentioned Born in Scotland as a study that would be able to address why when it roles out at larger scale. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-62926167 |
Description | Born in Scotland Study website |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | We have created a study website. This allows potential participants to 'opt in' to the study but also gives general information about the study and a newsletter |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/cardiovascular-science/born-in-scotland |
Description | Born in Scotland newsletter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We have produced a Born in Scotland newsletter. This is being disseminated via our website and social media channels (twitter, facebook, instagram) in order to have the widest reach. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/cardiovascular-science/born-in-scotland |
Description | Born in Scotland twitter handle |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | We have started a twitter feed @born_scotland to promote the study and give information about the study and relevant pregnancy facts |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
Description | Daphne Jackson Research Fellow Sandpit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Daphne Jackson Research fellows are a multidisciplinary network by default, with fellows from across the research disciplines. 3 fellows from Edinburgh organised a Research Sandpit, a 1-day workshop, to explore how they can use their inherent multidisciplinary expertise to benefit others. This event addressed the theme of "Human health". I spoke at this meeting, addressing the question: "What do we need to do to further human health in Scotland?". I particularly spoke about Born in Scotland as a new virtual cohort. This led to discussion and workshop activities and there will be a follow-up event |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Edinburgh Pregnancy Research Team twitter feed |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We run an active twitter feed @EdiPregResearch to promote the pregnancy related research of the team and to disseminate news about our studies widely |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
Description | Edinburgh Pregnancy Research Team website |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We have created the Edinburgh Pregnancy Research Team website to showcase our research activities and allow an easy to navigate look at our study team members, current and previous research studies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-pregnancy-research |
Description | Presentation at MEG-UK meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was asked to present about Born in Scotland at the MEG-UK 2022 meeting. This was useful as there were representatives from other cohort studies there including Generation Scotland and Our Future Health. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.meg-uk.org/ |
Description | William Longworth Lecture, Lothian Annual Women's Health Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Increased awareness of the study resulting in increased recruitment and dissemination through social media |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/centre-reproductive-health |