Reproductive and cardio-metabolic health

Lead Research Organisation: University of Bristol
Department Name: UNLISTED

Abstract

We are trying to find out how to improve the success of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and make sure that women who have conceived by IVF or ‘naturally’ have a healthy pregnancy and birth.
IVF is common. In an average school class of 30 children 1 will have been born by IVF. New ways of using IVF might improve success rates but they need to be carefully evaluated.
Whether women conceive by IVF or naturally up to 40% will have one or more of pregnancy loss, high blood pressure or high blood sugar in pregnancy, a premature birth or an infant who is born unhealthily small or large. We do not know how to prevent these problems or predict which women will experience them.
We will use data from very large studies and new methods that help us to determine causes from ‘confounders’ (factors that fool us into thinking that something is a cause when it is not). This will allow us to work out how to improve IVF and prevent pregnancy problems. It will also improve our understanding of what risk factors in pregnancy affect children’s risk of being obese or having diabetes or heart problems later in their lives.

Technical Summary

Our aim is to provide the evidence base that will improve treatment success with IVF and enable stratified and effective antenatal care in IVF and spontaneous conceptions (SC).
This is important because up to 40% or pregnancies are affected by one or more of miscarriage, stillbirth, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, preterm birth or delivery or a small or large for gestational aged infant, but we do not know the best way of preventing these. IVF is now the commonest treatment for infertility with >250K IVF cycles completed per year in the UK and on average 1 in 30 primary school children were born as a result of in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Success rates vary by couple and treatment characteristics but are between 20-30%. There are suggestions that IVF per se, and pregnancy complications in IVF and SC have important adverse effects on future offspring cardio-metabolic health, but whether these associations are causal and if so their magnitude is unclear.
Our objectives are to accurately predict and identify causal paths for: (i) response to IVF; (ii) healthy pregnancy and perinatal outcomes in IVF and SC; and (iii) offspring cardio-metabolic health.
Methods
Our focus will primarily be on maternal smoking, physical activity, sleep patterns, adiposity, pregnancy metabolic profiles and fetal (cord-blood) DNA methylation as potential predictors or risk factors.
We will use data from detailed clinical and general pregnancy/birth cohorts. We will work with relevant consortia, including the EuroCHILD pan-European birth cohort that we are involved in establishing from 26 existing cohorts, early growth genetics (EGG) consortia, in which we co-lead maternal-offspring genetic analyses, the Genetics of Diabetes In Pregnancy (GENdip) consortia that we have recently developed, and the pregnancy/birth cohorts working group aligned to the Consortia Of METabolomics Studies (COMETS), which we lead, as well as the Pregnancy And Child Epigenetics (PACE) consortia, which we work closely with alongside Relton’s MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit programme. We will triangulate results across the following analytical methods applied to these data sources: multivariable regression (MV), Mendelian randomization (MR), non-genetic instrumental variable (IV) analyses, within sibship and negative control studies.
Translation
Building on our successful impact on clinical guidelines in the first five-years of this programme, we will continue to work with relevant clinicians, patient groups and NICE guideline developers. For new methodological developments we will provide and share datasets and code and widely disseminate these.

Organisations

People

ORCID iD

Publications

10 25 50

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Broadaway KA (2023) Loci for insulin processing and secretion provide insight into type 2 diabetes risk. in American journal of human genetics

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Hughes DA (2022) metaboprep: an R package for preanalysis data description and processing. in Bioinformatics (Oxford, England)

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Magnus MC (2022) Pregnancy and risk of COVID-19: a Norwegian registry-linkage study. in BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology

Related Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Award Value
MC_UU_00011/1 01/04/2018 31/03/2023 £2,864,000
MC_UU_00011/2 Transfer MC_UU_00011/1 01/04/2018 31/03/2023 £965,000
MC_UU_00011/3 Transfer MC_UU_00011/2 01/04/2018 31/03/2023 £1,011,000
MC_UU_00011/4 Transfer MC_UU_00011/3 01/04/2018 31/03/2023 £1,329,000
MC_UU_00011/5 Transfer MC_UU_00011/4 01/04/2018 31/03/2023 £1,254,000
MC_UU_00011/6 Transfer MC_UU_00011/5 01/04/2018 31/03/2023 £1,640,000
MC_UU_00011/7 Transfer MC_UU_00011/6 01/04/2018 31/03/2023 £1,083,000
 
Description DHSC consultation on women's health
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/womens-health-strategy-call-for-evidence
 
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Funding ID APP1164212 
Organisation National Health and Medical Research Council 
Sector Public
Country Australia
Start 10/2018 
End 09/2023
 
Description Association of birthweight with perinatal, infant and maternal outcomes: A population linkage study
Amount £129,549 (GBP)
Funding ID RG2028 
Organisation Wellbeing of Women 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2018 
End 02/2020
 
Description BHF Accelerator award
Amount £1,000,000 (GBP)
Funding ID AA/18/7/34219 
Organisation British Heart Foundation (BHF) 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2019 
End 03/2023
 
Description BHF Chair of Cardiovascular Science and Clinical Epidemiology
Amount £508,351 (GBP)
Funding ID CH/F/20/90003 
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Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2021 
End 04/2026
 
Description Born in Bradford Age of Wonder
Amount £6,999,754 (GBP)
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Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
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End 12/2028
 
Description Born in Scotland in the 2020s - Pilot study
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Funding ID MR/V034294/1 
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2021 
End 03/2023
 
Description Cardiometabolic health of women with and without adverse pregnancy outcomes: An electronic health records study
Amount £249,879 (GBP)
Funding ID PG/19/21/34190 
Organisation British Heart Foundation (BHF) 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2020 
End 12/2023
 
Description Conception by artificial reproductive technologies and offspring health: ART-HEALTH
Amount € 2,499,951 (EUR)
Funding ID 101021566 
Organisation European Research Council (ERC) 
Sector Public
Country Belgium
Start 12/2021 
End 11/2026
 
Description Developing and Applying Statistical Genetics Methods to Elucidate the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
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Funding ID 1183074 
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Sector Public
Country Australia
Start 01/2020 
End 12/2022
 
Description Developing and applying new statistical models to test for transgenerational effects of environmental exposures in pregnancy
Amount kr 10,046,000 (NOK)
Funding ID 325640 
Organisation Research Council of Norway 
Sector Public
Country Norway
Start 09/2021 
End 08/2024
 
Description ESRC New Investigator Grant: Accumulative processes in health inequalities: the socioeconomic causes and consequences of mental and physical health comorbidity in adolescence
Amount £287,040 (GBP)
Funding ID ES/T013923/1 
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2020 
End 01/2023
 
Description GW4 Generator Award
Amount £14,800 (GBP)
Organisation GW4 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2021 
End 11/2021
 
Description Healthy Lives Malawi: Intergenerational Cohort of Chronic Conditions.
Amount £4,930,605 (GBP)
Funding ID 217013/Z/19/Z 
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 10/2019 
End 09/2024
 
Description Identifying maternal and fetal genetic determinants of infant birthweight and their relationship to offspring cardiometabolic risk
Amount $367,992 (AUD)
Funding ID APP1157714 
Organisation National Health and Medical Research Council 
Sector Public
Country Australia
Start 11/2018 
End 10/2023
 
Description Innovating behaviour and health surveillance for cardiovascular disease prevention in Malaysia
Amount £281,479 (GBP)
Funding ID MR/T018984/1 
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2019 
End 11/2021
 
Description Management of complex congenital heart disease (CHD) - single ventricle focus
Amount £16,151 (GBP)
Funding ID 2019-Aut-06 
Organisation University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust 
Department Above and Beyond Grants
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2020 
End 12/2021
 
Description Mendelian randomization studies of metabolites on heart failure
Amount ฿539,000 (THB)
Organisation Thailand Research Fund 
Sector Public
Country Thailand
Start  
 
Description Multimorbidity Mechanism and Therapeutics Research Collaborative
Amount £3,073,693 (GBP)
Organisation United Kingdom Research and Innovation 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2021 
End 03/2024
 
Description Prediction and prevention of adverse outcomes in pregnancies complicated by placental dysfunction
Amount £24,490 (GBP)
Organisation David Telling Charitable Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2018 
End 02/2019
 
Description Rapid call, Longitudinal Population Studies Enhancement Award for Born in Bradford to add pregnancy proteomics data
Amount £771,566 (GBP)
Funding ID MR/N024397/1 
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2022 
End 04/2022
 
Description SSCM conference fund scheme
Amount £500 (GBP)
Organisation University of Bristol 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
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End 08/2017
 
Description Sleep disturbance: new insights into the clinical impact in diabetes
Amount £257,928 (GBP)
Funding ID 17/0005700 
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Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2018 
End 03/2021
 
Description The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC): A multi-generation, longitudinal resource focusing on life course health and well-being.
Amount £8,327,295 (GBP)
Funding ID 217065/Z/19/Z 
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2019 
End 08/2024
 
Description The Born in Bradford COVID-19 Research Study: An adaptive mixed methods longitudinal study of the impact of COVID-19 on health inequalities in families living in Bradford
Amount £198,680 (GBP)
Organisation The Health Foundation 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2020 
End 03/2021
 
Description Vice-Chancellor's fellowship
Amount £227,000 (GBP)
Organisation University of Bristol 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2020 
End 03/2024
 
Title Mendelian Randomization Dictionary 
Description An only easily searchable dictionary of Mendelian randomization methods, which we keep up to date and have a facility for users to inform us of updates or corrects they feel should be in the Dictionary We are currently working on making a web interface that supports greater interaction with it by users and an app 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Has been accessed over 4 million times; down loaded over 400 times & cited four times 
URL https://osf.io/6yzs7/
 
Title Ascertaining and classifying cases of congenital anomalies in the ALSPAC birth cohort 
Description Provides details of how we have identified, coded and catalogued all cases of congenital anomalies in the initial children in the ALSPAC birth cohorts. Provides details of how to access and use these data - available to national and international researchers. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Too early 
URL https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/5-231
 
Title Metabolomics datasets in the Born in Bradford cohort 
Description This provides full details of all of the metabolomics data in the Born in Bradford study including details of how researchers (national and international) can access and use these 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Too early for impact 
URL https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/5-264
 
Title The second generation of The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC-G2): a cohort profile 
Description Provides full details of the second generation of the ALSPAC cohort including how researchers can access and use these data 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Increased use of dataset, including by international reearchers 
URL https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6971848/pdf/wellcomeopenres-4-17079.pdf
 
Description 4M consortium 
Organisation Cardiff University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Gemma Sharp established the Menarche, Menstruation, Menopause and Mental health (4M) consortium using funding from the GW4 Alliance (generator award: £14800). The consortium brings together researchers from different disciplines and institutions, with a shared interest in the intersection of menstrual and mental health. This includes researchers interested in using molecular epidemiological approaches to conduct research in this area.
Collaborator Contribution The 4M consortium includes partners from Bath, Cardiff and Exeter University, as well as external stakeholders from charities, patient groups, the NHS, government departments, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Impact We have run several workshops, including a three day in-person grant writing retreat. We have developed and submitted four grant applications for further funding.
Start Year 2021
 
Description 4M consortium 
Organisation GW4
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Gemma Sharp established the Menarche, Menstruation, Menopause and Mental health (4M) consortium using funding from the GW4 Alliance (generator award: £14800). The consortium brings together researchers from different disciplines and institutions, with a shared interest in the intersection of menstrual and mental health. This includes researchers interested in using molecular epidemiological approaches to conduct research in this area.
Collaborator Contribution The 4M consortium includes partners from Bath, Cardiff and Exeter University, as well as external stakeholders from charities, patient groups, the NHS, government departments, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Impact We have run several workshops, including a three day in-person grant writing retreat. We have developed and submitted four grant applications for further funding.
Start Year 2021
 
Description 4M consortium 
Organisation University of Bath
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Gemma Sharp established the Menarche, Menstruation, Menopause and Mental health (4M) consortium using funding from the GW4 Alliance (generator award: £14800). The consortium brings together researchers from different disciplines and institutions, with a shared interest in the intersection of menstrual and mental health. This includes researchers interested in using molecular epidemiological approaches to conduct research in this area.
Collaborator Contribution The 4M consortium includes partners from Bath, Cardiff and Exeter University, as well as external stakeholders from charities, patient groups, the NHS, government departments, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Impact We have run several workshops, including a three day in-person grant writing retreat. We have developed and submitted four grant applications for further funding.
Start Year 2021
 
Description 4M consortium 
Organisation University of Exeter
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Gemma Sharp established the Menarche, Menstruation, Menopause and Mental health (4M) consortium using funding from the GW4 Alliance (generator award: £14800). The consortium brings together researchers from different disciplines and institutions, with a shared interest in the intersection of menstrual and mental health. This includes researchers interested in using molecular epidemiological approaches to conduct research in this area.
Collaborator Contribution The 4M consortium includes partners from Bath, Cardiff and Exeter University, as well as external stakeholders from charities, patient groups, the NHS, government departments, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Impact We have run several workshops, including a three day in-person grant writing retreat. We have developed and submitted four grant applications for further funding.
Start Year 2021
 
Description AR- Health 
Organisation National University of Singapore
Country Singapore 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We lead this collaboration which is establishing data sources and methods to determine the causal effects of different forms of medical Artificial Reproduction on Health (AR-Health). We have identified relevant studies, harmonised data across them and developed the appropriate methods for analysing these data.
Collaborator Contribution Partners are contributing data and expertise.
Impact The collaboration in multi-disciplinary, with expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, law, and clinicians from reproductive health, obstetrics and neonatology. This is a new collaboration and too new to have had impact or publication outputs yet.
Start Year 2020
 
Description AR- Health 
Organisation Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Country Norway 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We lead this collaboration which is establishing data sources and methods to determine the causal effects of different forms of medical Artificial Reproduction on Health (AR-Health). We have identified relevant studies, harmonised data across them and developed the appropriate methods for analysing these data.
Collaborator Contribution Partners are contributing data and expertise.
Impact The collaboration in multi-disciplinary, with expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, law, and clinicians from reproductive health, obstetrics and neonatology. This is a new collaboration and too new to have had impact or publication outputs yet.
Start Year 2020
 
Description AR- Health 
Organisation University College Cork
Country Ireland 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We lead this collaboration which is establishing data sources and methods to determine the causal effects of different forms of medical Artificial Reproduction on Health (AR-Health). We have identified relevant studies, harmonised data across them and developed the appropriate methods for analysing these data.
Collaborator Contribution Partners are contributing data and expertise.
Impact The collaboration in multi-disciplinary, with expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, law, and clinicians from reproductive health, obstetrics and neonatology. This is a new collaboration and too new to have had impact or publication outputs yet.
Start Year 2020
 
Description AR- Health 
Organisation University of Amsterdam
Country Netherlands 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We lead this collaboration which is establishing data sources and methods to determine the causal effects of different forms of medical Artificial Reproduction on Health (AR-Health). We have identified relevant studies, harmonised data across them and developed the appropriate methods for analysing these data.
Collaborator Contribution Partners are contributing data and expertise.
Impact The collaboration in multi-disciplinary, with expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, law, and clinicians from reproductive health, obstetrics and neonatology. This is a new collaboration and too new to have had impact or publication outputs yet.
Start Year 2020
 
Description AR- Health 
Organisation University of Auckland
Country New Zealand 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We lead this collaboration which is establishing data sources and methods to determine the causal effects of different forms of medical Artificial Reproduction on Health (AR-Health). We have identified relevant studies, harmonised data across them and developed the appropriate methods for analysing these data.
Collaborator Contribution Partners are contributing data and expertise.
Impact The collaboration in multi-disciplinary, with expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, law, and clinicians from reproductive health, obstetrics and neonatology. This is a new collaboration and too new to have had impact or publication outputs yet.
Start Year 2020
 
Description AR- Health 
Organisation University of Copenhagen
Country Denmark 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We lead this collaboration which is establishing data sources and methods to determine the causal effects of different forms of medical Artificial Reproduction on Health (AR-Health). We have identified relevant studies, harmonised data across them and developed the appropriate methods for analysing these data.
Collaborator Contribution Partners are contributing data and expertise.
Impact The collaboration in multi-disciplinary, with expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, law, and clinicians from reproductive health, obstetrics and neonatology. This is a new collaboration and too new to have had impact or publication outputs yet.
Start Year 2020
 
Description AR- Health 
Organisation University of Paris
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We lead this collaboration which is establishing data sources and methods to determine the causal effects of different forms of medical Artificial Reproduction on Health (AR-Health). We have identified relevant studies, harmonised data across them and developed the appropriate methods for analysing these data.
Collaborator Contribution Partners are contributing data and expertise.
Impact The collaboration in multi-disciplinary, with expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, law, and clinicians from reproductive health, obstetrics and neonatology. This is a new collaboration and too new to have had impact or publication outputs yet.
Start Year 2020
 
Description AR- Health 
Organisation University of Southampton
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We lead this collaboration which is establishing data sources and methods to determine the causal effects of different forms of medical Artificial Reproduction on Health (AR-Health). We have identified relevant studies, harmonised data across them and developed the appropriate methods for analysing these data.
Collaborator Contribution Partners are contributing data and expertise.
Impact The collaboration in multi-disciplinary, with expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, law, and clinicians from reproductive health, obstetrics and neonatology. This is a new collaboration and too new to have had impact or publication outputs yet.
Start Year 2020
 
Description AR- Health 
Organisation University of Turin
Country Italy 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We lead this collaboration which is establishing data sources and methods to determine the causal effects of different forms of medical Artificial Reproduction on Health (AR-Health). We have identified relevant studies, harmonised data across them and developed the appropriate methods for analysing these data.
Collaborator Contribution Partners are contributing data and expertise.
Impact The collaboration in multi-disciplinary, with expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, law, and clinicians from reproductive health, obstetrics and neonatology. This is a new collaboration and too new to have had impact or publication outputs yet.
Start Year 2020
 
Description CHARGE consortium - Cross-platform metabolomics GWAS 
Organisation Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology Consortium (CHARGE)
Country Global 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I am contributing to designing the study and analysing data.
Collaborator Contribution The CHARGE Metabolomics Working Group is responsible for planning, conducting and reporting this large ongoing collaborative effort.
Impact Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies on human metabolome. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary, involving statisticians, genetic epidemiologists, epidemiologists and clinicians.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Collaborations with Brazil 
Organisation Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel)
Country Brazil 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution In the partnership with UFPEL, I contributed with co-supervision of PhD student and revision and input on publications resulting from her work. In the partnership with FURG, I contributed with revision and input on publication.
Collaborator Contribution The collaborator at UFPEL is the main supervisor and contributed with daily supervision and leadership of the research. The collaborator at FURG is the principal investigator of the cohort and lead the research.
Impact • Gomes, Ana Paula, Bierhals, Isabel Oliveira, Vieira, Luna Strieder, Soares, Ana Luiza Gonçalves, Flores, Thaynã Ramos, Assunção, Maria Cecília Formoso, & Gonçalves, Helen. (2020). Padrões alimentares de idosos e seus determinantes: estudo de base populacional no sul do Brasil. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 25(6), 1999-2008. Epub June 03, 2020.https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232020256.20932018 • Loret de Mola, Christian, Blumenberg, Cauane, Martins, Rafaela C., Martins-Silva, Thais, Carpena, Marina X., Del-Ponte, Bianca, Pearson, Rebecca, Soares, Ana L., & Cesar, Juraci A.. (2021). Increased depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazilian mothers: a longitudinal study. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, Epub January 11, 2021.https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2020-1628 None of the collaborations is multidisciplinary, and most are focused in epidemiology.
Start Year 2016
 
Description Collaborations with Brazil 
Organisation Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG)
Country Brazil 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution In the partnership with UFPEL, I contributed with co-supervision of PhD student and revision and input on publications resulting from her work. In the partnership with FURG, I contributed with revision and input on publication.
Collaborator Contribution The collaborator at UFPEL is the main supervisor and contributed with daily supervision and leadership of the research. The collaborator at FURG is the principal investigator of the cohort and lead the research.
Impact • Gomes, Ana Paula, Bierhals, Isabel Oliveira, Vieira, Luna Strieder, Soares, Ana Luiza Gonçalves, Flores, Thaynã Ramos, Assunção, Maria Cecília Formoso, & Gonçalves, Helen. (2020). Padrões alimentares de idosos e seus determinantes: estudo de base populacional no sul do Brasil. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 25(6), 1999-2008. Epub June 03, 2020.https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232020256.20932018 • Loret de Mola, Christian, Blumenberg, Cauane, Martins, Rafaela C., Martins-Silva, Thais, Carpena, Marina X., Del-Ponte, Bianca, Pearson, Rebecca, Soares, Ana L., & Cesar, Juraci A.. (2021). Increased depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazilian mothers: a longitudinal study. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, Epub January 11, 2021.https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2020-1628 None of the collaborations is multidisciplinary, and most are focused in epidemiology.
Start Year 2016
 
Description Cross-cohort studies of GlycA and cardiometabolic phenotypes across the lifecourse 
Organisation University of Melbourne
Department Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences
Country Australia 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Neil Goulding performed a replication study in the ALSPAC cohort, investigating whether inflammatory glycoprotein acetyls are associated with vascular phenotypes in children and their parents. Deborah Lawlor helped write the paper. The other projects are at a preliminary stage.
Collaborator Contribution They performed the main analyses within their cohort for the 1st paper.
Impact 1 article is about to be submitted to a peer-review journal.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Evans/Warrington Group (University of Queensland) 
Organisation University of Queensland
Country Australia 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We are currently collaborating on 4 papers, which are expected to be submitted within 6 months. Tom Bond (postdoc in Lawlor group) is leading analyses and manuscript writing on these projects. Tom Bond is an associate advisor to a PhD student (Geng Wang) jointly supervised with Dave Evans and Nicole Warrington.
Collaborator Contribution Dave Evans, Nicole Warrington and their team members have provided methodological input to these projects
Impact Multi disciplinary- epidemiology, statistical genetics
Start Year 2020
 
Description Imperial College London (Jarvelin Group) 
Organisation Imperial College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We are currently collaborating on 3 papers. Tom Bond (postdoc in Lawlor group) is leading analyses and manuscript writing on these projects
Collaborator Contribution Marjo-Riitta Jarvelin is providing intellectual input to these papers, and has provided access to datasets from the Northern Finland Birth Cohorts, Born in Bradford and Generation R studies (via data transfer agreements between these cohorts and Imperial College London)
Impact Not multi disciplinary
Start Year 2017
 
Description Investigating the relationships between unfavorable habitual sleep and metabolomic traits: evidence from multi-cohort multivariable regression and Mendelian randomization analyses 
Organisation Erasmus University Rotterdam
Country Netherlands 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I performed the Mendelian randomization analyses, made the figures for the paper and helped to write the article. Deborah Lawlor helped write the paper.
Collaborator Contribution They performed the multivariable regression analyses and helped to write the article.
Impact Yes
Start Year 2019
 
Description Investigating the relationships between unfavorable habitual sleep and metabolomic traits: evidence from multi-cohort multivariable regression and Mendelian randomization analyses 
Organisation Leiden University Medical Center
Country Netherlands 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I performed the Mendelian randomization analyses, made the figures for the paper and helped to write the article. Deborah Lawlor helped write the paper.
Collaborator Contribution They performed the multivariable regression analyses and helped to write the article.
Impact Yes
Start Year 2019
 
Description Investigating the relationships between unfavorable habitual sleep and metabolomic traits: evidence from multi-cohort multivariable regression and Mendelian randomization analyses 
Organisation University of Bristol
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I performed the Mendelian randomization analyses, made the figures for the paper and helped to write the article. Deborah Lawlor helped write the paper.
Collaborator Contribution They performed the multivariable regression analyses and helped to write the article.
Impact Yes
Start Year 2019
 
Description LifeCycle - IVF cohort 
Organisation Barcelona Institute for Global Health
Country Spain 
Sector Multiple 
PI Contribution We are the central organisers of the collaboration. We draft analysis plans, share these with partners, undertake individual participant study analyses and meta-analyses of data across all studies. We will write the first draft of initial papers and redraft following in put from partners
Collaborator Contribution Partners: 1. Contribute to the development of analysis plans 2. Provide individual participant data or summary results 3. Contribute to drafting manuscripts
Impact Too early for outputs
Start Year 2018
 
Description LifeCycle - IVF cohort 
Organisation Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We are the central organisers of the collaboration. We draft analysis plans, share these with partners, undertake individual participant study analyses and meta-analyses of data across all studies. We will write the first draft of initial papers and redraft following in put from partners
Collaborator Contribution Partners: 1. Contribute to the development of analysis plans 2. Provide individual participant data or summary results 3. Contribute to drafting manuscripts
Impact Too early for outputs
Start Year 2018
 
Description LifeCycle - IVF cohort 
Organisation Erasmus University Rotterdam
Country Netherlands 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We are the central organisers of the collaboration. We draft analysis plans, share these with partners, undertake individual participant study analyses and meta-analyses of data across all studies. We will write the first draft of initial papers and redraft following in put from partners
Collaborator Contribution Partners: 1. Contribute to the development of analysis plans 2. Provide individual participant data or summary results 3. Contribute to drafting manuscripts
Impact Too early for outputs
Start Year 2018
 
Description LifeCycle - IVF cohort 
Organisation Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Country Norway 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We are the central organisers of the collaboration. We draft analysis plans, share these with partners, undertake individual participant study analyses and meta-analyses of data across all studies. We will write the first draft of initial papers and redraft following in put from partners
Collaborator Contribution Partners: 1. Contribute to the development of analysis plans 2. Provide individual participant data or summary results 3. Contribute to drafting manuscripts
Impact Too early for outputs
Start Year 2018
 
Description LifeCycle - IVF cohort 
Organisation University of Copenhagen
Country Denmark 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We are the central organisers of the collaboration. We draft analysis plans, share these with partners, undertake individual participant study analyses and meta-analyses of data across all studies. We will write the first draft of initial papers and redraft following in put from partners
Collaborator Contribution Partners: 1. Contribute to the development of analysis plans 2. Provide individual participant data or summary results 3. Contribute to drafting manuscripts
Impact Too early for outputs
Start Year 2018
 
Description LifeCycle - IVF cohort 
Organisation University of Groningen
Country Netherlands 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We are the central organisers of the collaboration. We draft analysis plans, share these with partners, undertake individual participant study analyses and meta-analyses of data across all studies. We will write the first draft of initial papers and redraft following in put from partners
Collaborator Contribution Partners: 1. Contribute to the development of analysis plans 2. Provide individual participant data or summary results 3. Contribute to drafting manuscripts
Impact Too early for outputs
Start Year 2018
 
Description LifeCycle - IVF cohort 
Organisation University of Southampton
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We are the central organisers of the collaboration. We draft analysis plans, share these with partners, undertake individual participant study analyses and meta-analyses of data across all studies. We will write the first draft of initial papers and redraft following in put from partners
Collaborator Contribution Partners: 1. Contribute to the development of analysis plans 2. Provide individual participant data or summary results 3. Contribute to drafting manuscripts
Impact Too early for outputs
Start Year 2018
 
Description LifeCycle - IVF cohort 
Organisation University of Turin
Country Italy 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We are the central organisers of the collaboration. We draft analysis plans, share these with partners, undertake individual participant study analyses and meta-analyses of data across all studies. We will write the first draft of initial papers and redraft following in put from partners
Collaborator Contribution Partners: 1. Contribute to the development of analysis plans 2. Provide individual participant data or summary results 3. Contribute to drafting manuscripts
Impact Too early for outputs
Start Year 2018
 
Description MR-PREG 
Organisation Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Our contributions are: 1. Draft analysis plans 2. Complete analyses 3. Draft papers 4. Support other partners to lead projects
Collaborator Contribution Partners contribute to: 1. Analysis plans. So far these have been initially written by my group but partners make important contributions to revising the first draft (before we begin analyses) and to any decisions about any revisions after analyses have started 2. Data provision and/or analyses. Participants provide individual participant data for analyses in Bristol and/or undertake analyses in their groups and provide summary results 3. Critical comments on drafted papers
Impact Analyses have been completed but no publications yet.
Start Year 2018
 
Description MR-PREG 
Organisation Harvard University
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Our contributions are: 1. Draft analysis plans 2. Complete analyses 3. Draft papers 4. Support other partners to lead projects
Collaborator Contribution Partners contribute to: 1. Analysis plans. So far these have been initially written by my group but partners make important contributions to revising the first draft (before we begin analyses) and to any decisions about any revisions after analyses have started 2. Data provision and/or analyses. Participants provide individual participant data for analyses in Bristol and/or undertake analyses in their groups and provide summary results 3. Critical comments on drafted papers
Impact Analyses have been completed but no publications yet.
Start Year 2018
 
Description MR-PREG 
Organisation Imperial College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Our contributions are: 1. Draft analysis plans 2. Complete analyses 3. Draft papers 4. Support other partners to lead projects
Collaborator Contribution Partners contribute to: 1. Analysis plans. So far these have been initially written by my group but partners make important contributions to revising the first draft (before we begin analyses) and to any decisions about any revisions after analyses have started 2. Data provision and/or analyses. Participants provide individual participant data for analyses in Bristol and/or undertake analyses in their groups and provide summary results 3. Critical comments on drafted papers
Impact Analyses have been completed but no publications yet.
Start Year 2018
 
Description MR-PREG 
Organisation Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Country Norway 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Our contributions are: 1. Draft analysis plans 2. Complete analyses 3. Draft papers 4. Support other partners to lead projects
Collaborator Contribution Partners contribute to: 1. Analysis plans. So far these have been initially written by my group but partners make important contributions to revising the first draft (before we begin analyses) and to any decisions about any revisions after analyses have started 2. Data provision and/or analyses. Participants provide individual participant data for analyses in Bristol and/or undertake analyses in their groups and provide summary results 3. Critical comments on drafted papers
Impact Analyses have been completed but no publications yet.
Start Year 2018
 
Description MR-PREG 
Organisation University of Copenhagen
Country Denmark 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Our contributions are: 1. Draft analysis plans 2. Complete analyses 3. Draft papers 4. Support other partners to lead projects
Collaborator Contribution Partners contribute to: 1. Analysis plans. So far these have been initially written by my group but partners make important contributions to revising the first draft (before we begin analyses) and to any decisions about any revisions after analyses have started 2. Data provision and/or analyses. Participants provide individual participant data for analyses in Bristol and/or undertake analyses in their groups and provide summary results 3. Critical comments on drafted papers
Impact Analyses have been completed but no publications yet.
Start Year 2018
 
Description MR-PREG 
Organisation University of Oulu
Country Finland 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Our contributions are: 1. Draft analysis plans 2. Complete analyses 3. Draft papers 4. Support other partners to lead projects
Collaborator Contribution Partners contribute to: 1. Analysis plans. So far these have been initially written by my group but partners make important contributions to revising the first draft (before we begin analyses) and to any decisions about any revisions after analyses have started 2. Data provision and/or analyses. Participants provide individual participant data for analyses in Bristol and/or undertake analyses in their groups and provide summary results 3. Critical comments on drafted papers
Impact Analyses have been completed but no publications yet.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Metabolic profiling to identify potential targets which may influence IVF outcome 
Organisation University of Glasgow
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Amy Taylor and Deborah Lawlor helped write the analysis plans. I completed statistical analyses that were started by Amy Taylor before she went on maternity leave. I made the figures for the papers and helped to write the articles. Deborah Lawlor helped write the papers.
Collaborator Contribution They set up the IVF cohort and helped to write the articles.
Impact 2 articles have been published: Al Rashid, K., Taylor, A., Lumsden, M.A., Goulding, N. J., Lawlor, D. A., Nelson, S. Association of the functional ovarian reserve with serum metabolomic profiling by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy: a cross-sectional study of ~ 400 women. BMC Med 18, 247 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-020-01700-z Al Rashid, K., Taylor, A., Lumsden, M.A., Goulding, N. J., Lawlor, D. A., Nelson, S. Association of the serum metabolomic profile by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with sperm parameters: a cross-sectional study of 325 men. F&S Science 1, 2 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xfss.2020.10.003. 2 further papers have been submitted to peer-review journals
Start Year 2017
 
Description Metabolomic biomarkers for fetal growth 
Organisation University of Cambridge
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Neil Goulding, Nancy McBride and Gemma Clayton performed several replication studies in the Born in Bradford cohort. Deborah Lawlor helped write the papers.
Collaborator Contribution They performed the main analyses within their POP cohort and they wrote the papers.
Impact 1 article has been published for which I have worked on: Sovio, U., Goulding, N., McBride, N. et al. A maternal serum metabolite ratio predicts fetal growth restriction at term. Nat Med 26, 348-353 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-0804-9 1 further paper is about to be submitted to a peer-review journal that I have personally been involved with. Nancy McBride has other articles published as a result of this collaboration and Gemma Clayton is currently working on another project as part of this collaboration.
Start Year 2018
 
Description NTNU Trondheim 
Organisation Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Department Department of Public Health and Nursing
Country Norway 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We are currently collaborating on 1 paper, with further papers expected to be submitted within 1 year. Tom Bond (postdoc in Lawlor group) is leading analyses and manuscript writing on these projects.
Collaborator Contribution Ben Brumpton, Bjorn-Olav Asvold and Laxmi Bhatta are running analyses in the HUNT cohort
Impact Multi disciplinary- epidemiology, clinical medicine
Start Year 2020
 
Description Replication studies for CHARGE Metabolomics and COMETS consortia 
Organisation University of Bristol
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Neil Goulding performed the following replication studies in the ALSPAC and/or Born in Bradford (BiB) cohort: a) 2 separate projects investigating associations between metabolites and blood pressure (one using data from ALSPAC parents (for CHARGE) and one using data from parents and young adults in ALSPAC and pregnant mothers in BiB (COMETS)) (b) Investigating associations between metabolites and liver function using data from ALSPAC young adults (CHARGE). Carolina Borges and Neil Goulding also performed a metabolomics GWAS in ALSPAC parents for CHARGE metabolomics.
Collaborator Contribution They performed the same analyses within their own cohorts.
Impact Full details of each should be reported under the relevant sections of the form. Articles will be submitted to peer-review journals, for which we will be co-authors.
Start Year 2019
 
Description UCLEB 
Organisation London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution One of the key partners Collaboration is concerned with the use of genetics in risk prediction and aetiology (Mendelian randomization) of cardiometabolic disease. Includes the use of metabolomics
Collaborator Contribution As above
Impact Large number of publications - See CV
Start Year 2007
 
Description UCLEB 
Organisation University of Edinburgh
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution One of the key partners Collaboration is concerned with the use of genetics in risk prediction and aetiology (Mendelian randomization) of cardiometabolic disease. Includes the use of metabolomics
Collaborator Contribution As above
Impact Large number of publications - See CV
Start Year 2007
 
Description Developmental origins offspring adiposity 
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 Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Press release of research on the developmental origins of offspring adiposity, which gained international coverage in coventional media via large network of international scientists involved with the research. Was also re-twetted a lot.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Discussing COVID-19 research with children in schools- Louise Millard 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact IEU researchers have led online epidemiology sessions for students at two Bristol primary schools.
Having outlined their own research, IEU researchers led the 11-year olds in devising their own epidemiology research questions about COVID-19 or the effects of the lockdown. Their questions included: Can eating chillies help prevent COVID-19? Can alcohol make COVID-19 worse? and Do people sleep more, less or the same in lockdown?
The students then worked out how researchers might collect and process data to help them to work out the answers to their questions. Through so doing, they considered the challenges of working with incomplete data in rapid-response epidemiology. They also engaged with ideas of causality and the responsible communication of research findings.
The 11-year olds greatly enjoyed the sessions, saying, "I enjoyed this experience because I learnt a lot about the process of how scientists study" and "It was good to meet scientists - I was inspired.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description I'm a scientist get me out of here 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Organised by MRC
Public Engagement about Science and a career in science
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/news-and-events/public-engagement/supporting-education/im-a-scientist...
 
Description Meet the Scientist - Annie Herbert 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Organised but University of Bristol
Explaining what epidemiology was and how it helped understanding all aspects of COVID
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Neonatal Society Autumn Meeting (5th November 2020)- Neil Golding 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Several postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers from the University of Bristol (as well as other universities) presented their work at this meeting, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.neonatalsociety.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The_Neonatal_Society_Abstracts_Nov-2020...
 
Description Pilot study with 'We the Curious' and public scientific museum 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact We the curious is a science museum in Bristol. We are doing a pilot project with them that will enable us to determine the youngest age (in children) at which it is feasible to capture data on capillary glycocalix through an imaging technology. The data assessment requires a probe to be placed under the child's tongue for 7-10 minutes to capture sufficient image data. We worked with We the Curious to agree the recruitment and data collection protocol. Older children / young adults (14-19 year old) will collect data and with our support do analyses. The results will provide the answer we need and all data will be destroyed once analyses are completed.
We will use the results to decide the age groups in ALSPAC G2 and in other cohorts (e.g. in Bradford) in which we will collect these data.
We the curious are keen to work on other projects with us and to build stronger links with the University for mutual benefit with respect to public engagement and involvement. This current project is the first project with them. Hopefully, it will lead to many further projects.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Press release - childhood maltreatment and cardiovascular disease- Ana Soares 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Sex differences in the association between childhood maltreatment and cardiovascular disease in the UK Biobank". This provided a wider reach of the research to the general public.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2020/july/heart-study.html
 
Description Press release on smoking and congenital heart disease 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Press release and interviews covered in national papers, TV and local radio and TV. Research led by BHF Student showing potential effect of maternal smoking in pregnancy on congenital heart disease
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Published a paper on environmental data collection in ALSPAC birth cohort with two ALSPAC participants as co-authors 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This was a unique experience of real participant/public involvement - working with two of the study participants to document all of the environmental and social data in ALSPAC, priorities for new data and methods for collecting these. The participant co-authors contributed to all aspects of the paper, including describing the methods for collecting data (including burden on them) for existing data, advising on what they would consider key priorities for future data collection and the best methods for collecting those data.
Publication is
Boyd A, Thomas R, Hansell AL, Gulliver J, Hicks LM, Griggs R, Hey JV, Taylor CM, Morris T, Golding J, Doerner R, Fecht D, Henderson J, Lawlor DA, Timpson NJ, Macleod J, Data Resource Profile: The ALSPAC birth cohort as a platform to study the relationship of environment and health and social factors International Journal of Epidemiology 2019; doi: 10.1093/ije/dyz063
This experience forms a blueprint for further co-production research with other cohort participants
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/48/4/1038/5475780
 
Description You-tube video describing the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children - Generation 2 cohort and its contribution to research 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact I produced a you-tube video with ALSPAC study participants and staff who collect data in ALSPAC, to inform a wide range of people about the value of the multi-generational ALSPAC study and the research it has contributed to. We also promoted the importance of population health studies such as ALSPAC in general.
The video can be found here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQtnmCNgmXI
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQtnmCNgmXI