Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading killer of men and women in Victoria (1). It is well established that individuals who experience maltreatment (physical, sexual, psychological abuse and/or neglect (2)) in childhood are at heightened risk of developing CVD and other chronic diseases in their lifetime. Victoria has one of the highest number of reported maltreatment cases in Australia (2), with girls aged 13-15 particularly vulnerable. For maltreated girls who go on to become mothers in adulthood, preliminary data show that their children have negative health outcomes in the form of physical attributes like low birth weight; even after accounting for parental socio-economic factors (3). To date, no human study has specifically investigated whether maltreatment experienced by a mother in her early life influences the cardiovascular health of her children. In fact, there is no longitudinal study in Victoria or Australia with the capacity to answer this novel question. This proof of concept project will therefore draw on data from over 14,000 pregnant women enrolled in the well-established ALSPAC study; a world-leading, birth cohort study conducted in the United Kingdom using a sample that is highly generalizable to the Victorian population. Should this concept be validated, findings could provide a new approach to CVD prevention that benefits current and future generations.