Mortality and cancer registration for the Boyd Orr cohort. Version 1
Research type
Research Database
IRAS ID
177970
Contact name
Richard Martin
Contact email
Research summary
The Boyd Orr cohort
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SW/0140
Date of REC Opinion
11 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion
Data collection arrangements
We are seeking ethical approval for the Boyd Orr research database. The study is based on the original records of a survey of childhood diet, health, growth and social circumstances carried out in 1937-39: “The Carnegie Survey of Family Diet and Health in Pre-war Britain”. Using the NHS Central register 85% of the approximately 5,000 children whose families were surveyed have been traced. Over the last 20 years we have carried out a number of follow-up studies using these records some new data collection; we have particularly investigated aspects of infant feeding, childhood diet, health, and living conditions with adult health (including cancer and heart disease).
We have followed up study members twice; in 1997/8 by questionnaire (1648 study members) and 2002/3 (799 study members) in specially designed research clinics where we took clinical measurements and blood samples, including DNA. Study members are now aged late 70s to early 90s and we are no longer in contact with them, but are seeking permission to continue to receive information from the Office of National Statistics on their cause of death and whether they develop cancer. Such information will help us investigate life-long influences on health in this unique study.
Research programme
The research based on this cohort has been led by population health scientists (epidemiologists / public health physicians / nutritionists / social scientists). Its findings have particularly contributed to scientific knowledge about aspects of: a) diet and nutrition: breast feeding and childhood diet (fruit, vegetables, dairy products and calorie intake) and later health; b) childhood overweight/obesity and mortality; c) childhood social circumstances (family income / housing conditions) and later health; and d) genetic studies of ageing and physical function.
Research database title
The Boyd Orr cohort
Establishment organisation
University of Bristol
Establishment organisation address
One Cathedral Square
Bristol
BS1 5DD