Proposal summaries

These are research proposals that have been approved by the ALSPAC exec. The titles include a B number which identifies the proposal and the date on which the proposals received ALSPAC exec approval.

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B4773 - Uncovering social and biological mechanisms between heat and mental health in pregnancy and across early life - 19/12/2024

B number: 
B4773
Principal applicant name: 
Kate Tilling | Bristol University (UK)
Co-applicants: 
Professor Dan Bernie, Dr Jo Newbury, Dr Eunice Lo, Professor Rachael Gooberman-Hill, Professor Golam Khandaker, Dr Sinead English, dr Chin Yang Shapland
Title of project: 
Uncovering social and biological mechanisms between heat and mental health in pregnancy and across early life
Proposal summary: 

Adult mental health is different depending on the season in which someone is born, which suggests that heat during pregnancy might affect later life mental health. While there is already lots of research into how mental health conditions can be influenced by difficult events in their earlier life, the long-term effects of heatwave exposure on anxiety and depression in mothers and their children are not yet well understood. This is in part because of the challenging data required to understand this better. For example you would need to do long studies over time across big groups of people.For this research proposal, we want to understand what social and biological factors related to heat exposure at early life and during pregnancy can lead to anxiety and depression in pregnant mothers and their children.

Impact of research: 
We hope that our findings will shed light on whether there needs to be different guidelines and definitions of an impactful “heatwave” for pregnant women, or small children, or particular subgroups. Another will be to provide recommendations to support people during heatwaves, based on the results we find about how heat acts – e.g. to provide air conditioning at night for pregnant women during a heatwave, if sleep is issues are found to link to poor mental health in pregnant people.. It is crucially important to study pregnant women (who are often neglected in other research studies). The enduring effect on mental health means that early interventions can have huge impact (ie not just immediate but later).
Date proposal received: 
Friday, 6 December, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Tuesday, 10 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Mental health - Psychology, Psychiatry, Cognition, Mental health, Statistical methods, Cohort studies - attrition, bias, participant engagement, ethics

B4768 - Lung Function COPD Epigenetics and Accelerated Ageing Across the Lifespan - 11/12/2024

B number: 
B4768
Principal applicant name: 
Rosa Faner | Universitat de Barcelona / FRCB-IDIBAPS (SPAIN)
Co-applicants: 
Julieta Viglino, Sandra Casas, Jack Grenvillle, James Dodd
Title of project: 
Lung Function, COPD, Epigenetics and Accelerated Ageing Across the Lifespan
Proposal summary: 

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a complex, heterogeneous and prevalent disease with a high socio-economic burden whose underlying biological mechanisms are unknown. It is now well established that about half of the patients with COPD never achieved a normal lung function early in life, and there is increasing evidence that some COPD risks may derive from early life factors in this setting it is highly likely that respiratory diseases are the end result of a set of different dynamic environmental-gene interactions that can occur during the entire life span of an individual (time). Lung development and lung aging are often considered two independent phenomena, but they are tightly interrelated.

Here we propose that alterations during lung development influence age-related physiological deterioration and cause premature lung aging. We expect that the lung (lung tissue and bronchial biopsies), as affected organ in COPD, accumulates the highest burden of methylation changes, but that some of them, are reflected in the circulating blood. Subsequently we will explore if these changes are identifiable early in life. We sought to explore this hypothesis by comparing the epigenetic profile associated with FEV1

Impact of research: 
Epigenetic signatures associated with lung function decline or COPD found in children, teens, or young adults may offer valuable predictive targets for respiratory diseases, enabling earlier intervention and prevention strategies.
Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 5 December, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 9 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Genetics, Respiratory - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease, Statistical methods, Epigenetics

B4742 - Can the negative effects of low socioeconomic status on child cognitive development be negated by home environment factors - 09/12/2024

B number: 
B4742
Principal applicant name: 
Natasha Kirkham | Birkbeck, University of London
Co-applicants: 
Miss Helen Yuki Grimshaw
Title of project: 
Can the negative effects of low socioeconomic status on child cognitive development be negated by home environment factors?
Proposal summary: 

An abundance of previous research has demonstrated the damaging effects of low socioeconomic status (SES) on a child's emerging cognitive skills, and this leads to an achievement gap which exists by the time children enter school; a gap which continues to widen throughout the school years. Building on previous findings that have suggested that some factors, such as neighbourhood chaos, may have a protective effect against the detrimental effects of low SES, this study aims to investigate whether certain parenting styles and home environment factors may negate the effects of SES on child cognitive development and subsequent school achievement. These will include control parenting, warmth parenting, distracting parenting, background noise parenting, parental verbal and non-verbal engagement with children, physical proximity parenting, child mental health, and parental cognitive ability. By investigating these potentially mediating factors, we hope to shed light on ways of supporting the cognitive development of disadvantaged children.

Impact of research: 
By identifying factors within the home environment that may reduce the damaging effects of low SES on early child cognitive development, we hope to be one step closer to developing effective interventions for supporting disadvantaged children and their cognitive skills.
Date proposal received: 
Friday, 6 December, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 9 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Developmental psychology, Statistical methods, Childhood - childcare, childhood adversity, Cognition - cognitive function, Development, Parenting

B4772 - Epigenetic Biomarkers of Immune Activation in Mental Health Trajectories - 09/12/2024

B number: 
B4772
Principal applicant name: 
Sinan Guloksuz | Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University (The Netherlands)
Co-applicants: 
Winni Schalkwijk, MSc
Title of project: 
Epigenetic Biomarkers of Immune Activation in Mental Health Trajectories
Proposal summary: 

Previous research has shown that epigenetic markers, like DNA methylation, reflect environmental exposures and can predict disease outcomes. The immune system is known to be involved the development of mental health problems and is one of the main body systems that regulates the response to various environmental risk factors. Therefore, the epigenome of immune cells could carry valuable information about the role of the immune system in mental health. Recent studies show that epigenetic markers of inflammation outperform circulating inflammatory protein levels in predicting inflammation-related diseases, due to their higher temporal stability, which may better capture chronic inflammation. Also, epigenetic processes are involved in developmental programming of both the immune system and nervous system, making epigenetic markers attractive for studying developmental origins of immune-related mental health risk. When applying such epigenetic markers in research on the immune-mental health link, developmental stages need to be considered, to elucidate epigenetic timing effects. With this project, we aim to explore the potential of epigenetic biomarkers to study how immune activation throughout development contributes to the risk of mental health problems, as a potential resilience mechanism in response to environmental risk factors.

This project is embedded in the Youth-GEMs project, an european consortium on gene-environment interactions in mental health trajectories of youth (ALSPAC proposal B3879).

Impact of research: 
This project will have impact on the research field by: - increasing understanding about the value of DNAm biomarkers of immune activation in epidemiological research, extensively characterising these markers with respect to their developmental stability, environmental influences and involved immune pathways. - providing some novel epigenetic scores which capture shared variation across inflammatory proteins, which can be used in further research. - validating the use of epigenetic biomarkers of inflammation developed in children and adolescents of ALSPAC in an external dataset (Generation R). - providing key insights into the value of epigenetic biomarkers of immune activation in predicting mental health outcomes.
Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 5 December, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 9 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Epigenetic epidemiology; immune system biomarkers; gene-environment interactions in mental health trajectories of youth, Mental health, Statistical methods, Biomarkers - e.g. cotinine, fatty acids, haemoglobin, etc.

B4775 - Intergenerational Trajectories of Depression Maternal Mental Health Genetic Susceptibility and Family Dynamics - 09/12/2024

B number: 
B4775
Principal applicant name: 
Yanmiao Cao | Shandong Normal University (China)
Co-applicants: 
Xiaqing Qin, M.D.
Title of project: 
Intergenerational Trajectories of Depression: Maternal Mental Health, Genetic Susceptibility, and Family Dynamics
Proposal summary: 

There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that maternal depression during pregnancy and the postnatal period can have profound and lasting effects on the mental health of offspring, particularly in terms of depression. This study aims to explore the intergenerational trajectories of depression, focusing on the role of maternal mental health, genetic susceptibility, and family dynamics as potential mediators and moderators in the transmission of depression from mother to child.

Building on previous research that has established a link between maternal depression and offspring mental health outcomes (Goodman et al., 2018), this project will employ a longitudinal approach to examine the trajectory of maternal depression and its influence on the development of offspring depression. We will explore the genetic underpinnings of depression by incorporating genetic risk scores (GRS) to assess the genetic liability within families. This approach allows us to understand not just the environmental transmission but also the genetic contribution to the intergenerational pattern of depression.

The study will also investigate the mediating role of family dynamics, such as parenting practices and the parent-child relationship, in the association between maternal depression and offspring depression. The impact of paternal involvement and the couple relationship quality on maternal postpartum depression and child development will be considered.

Impact of research: 
The findings from this project will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between maternal mental health, genetic predispositions, and family dynamics in the development of offspring depression. By identifying key periods of vulnerability and potential intervention points, our research can inform the development of targeted strategies to mitigate the long-term adverse effects of maternal depression on offspring. The insights gained are expected to be instrumental in shaping public policies and intervention programmes aimed at reducing the intergenerational cycle of depression and associated adverse outcomes.
Date proposal received: 
Sunday, 8 December, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 9 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Mental health - Psychology, Psychiatry, Cognition, Mental health, Computer simulations/modelling/algorithms, GWAS, Statistical methods, Biological samples -e.g. blood, cell lines, saliva, etc., Cohort studies - attrition, bias, participant engagement, ethics, Childhood - childcare, childhood adversity, Cognition - cognitive function, Genomics, Mothers - maternal age, menopause, obstetrics, Offspring, Parenting, Sex differences

B4774 - Impact of Early Childhood Free Sugar Consumption on Childhood and Adolescent Obesity and Cardiometabolic Risk - 09/12/2024

B number: 
B4774
Principal applicant name: 
Jean Welsh | Emory University (USA)
Co-applicants: 
Katelyn Chiang
Title of project: 
Impact of Early Childhood Free Sugar Consumption on Childhood and Adolescent Obesity and Cardiometabolic Risk
Proposal summary: 

Our team has previously utilized ALSPAC data and published findings suggesting that a) maternal nutritional status during pregnancy and b) free sugar intake at age 3 years are both positively associated with hepatic steatosis in young adulthood.1,2 We would like to extend our research to examine associations between early life free sugar and sugar-containing beverage consumption at 18 months and obesity and cardiometabolic risk throughout childhood and adolescence. Building off our earlier findings related to maternal nutritional status, we will also examine effect modification of the free sugar and later obesity association by maternal metabolic dysfunction and diet during pregnancy.

Increasingly, research has implicated early childhood as a critical window for the establishment and maintenance of obesity, necessitating a focus on preventing obesity early in life. Consequently, it is critically important to develop a better understanding of early life dietary factors that increase obesity risk. Current infant and toddler dietary recommendations include a focus on minimizing free sugar consumption as excessive intake may predispose children to obesity, but the evidence underpinning these guidelines is limited. It is unclear what amount of free sugar intake during early life conveys increased risk of obesity and compromised cardiometabolic health, and what factors modify this risk. Further, maternal metabolic dysfunction during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of offspring chronic disease via in-utero metabolic programming, and recent research has suggested that an interplay may exist between the prenatal environment, early nutrition, and later cardiometabolic health. However, to date, no researchers have examined how the early free sugar-childhood obesity relationship may be modified by maternal conditions such as pre-pregnancy obesity, excessive gestational weight gain, and gestational diabetes. A better understanding of the potential effect modification by maternal health during pregnancy could help provide insights into which, if any, groups may benefit from increased, targeted early life nutrition guidance. We will utilize longitudinal data from a British birth cohort study (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children) to assess the association between free sugar and sugar-containing beverage consumption at 18 months and obesity at ages 5, 7, 13, 15 and 17 years and cardiometabolic risk at ages 15 and 17 and examine effect modification of the associations by maternal metabolic dysfunction and diet during pregnancy. Our findings will inform existing infant and toddler nutrition guidelines and help guide the development and targeting of early childhood obesity prevention interventions.

Publications from original proposal:
1. Sekkarie A, Welsh JA, Northstone K, Stein AD, Ramakrishnan U, Vos MB. Associations between Free Sugar and Sugary Beverage Intake in Early Childhood and Adult NAFLD in a Population-Based UK Cohort. Children. 2021; 8(4):290. doi: 10.3390/children8040290
2. Sekkarie A, Welsh JA, Northstone K, Stein AD, Ramakrishnan U, Vos MB. Associations of maternal diet and nutritional status with offspring hepatic steatosis in the Avon longitudinal study of parents and children. BMC Nutr. 2021;7(1):28. Published 2021 Jul 8. doi:10.1186/s40795-021-00433-3

Impact of research: 
Findings from this research will increase the supporting pediatric nutrition evidence base and may be used to strengthen or modify existing infant and toddler nutrition guidance. Results may help elucidate appropriate levels of free sugar and sugar-containing beverage intake and what patterns of sugar-containing beverage intake in early life are most detrimental. Results may also help public health practitioners develop more effective nutrition education messages and better target children most at risk of sustaining poor health outcomes from early life free sugar and sugar-containing beverage consumption.
Date proposal received: 
Friday, 6 December, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 9 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Epidemiology, Obesity, Statistical methods, Nutrition - breast feeding, diet

B4761 - Investigation of the utility of transcriptomic and epigenetic data for diagnosing the onset of puberty - 06/12/2024

B number: 
B4761
Principal applicant name: 
Adam Stevens | University of Manchester (UK)
Co-applicants: 
Beverly Hird, Dr Philip Murray, Prof Peter Clayton
Title of project: 
Investigation of the utility of transcriptomic and epigenetic data for diagnosing the onset of puberty
Proposal summary: 

Growth and Puberty are fundamental aspects of childhood development. Puberty is the period of transition between childhood and adulthood, resulting in the capacity to reproduce and is associated with a significant increase in rate of growth. The mechanisms underlying the control of human growth as well as initiation of human puberty are poorly understood. Knowledge of the mechanisms, as well as being of great interest, could contribute to the care and treatment of children with early and late puberty. The proposed study aims to further understanding of the control of childhood growth and triggers of pubertal onset using measures of gene activity in normal children from the ALSPAC cohort. By examining the pattern of growth and puberty in normal children and comparing this with patterns of gene activity, we hope to identify markers of pubertal onset and identify which genes influence growth rate. We aim to use this information to develop a blood test for use in children with possible disorders of puberty.

Impact of research: 
Identifying an omics signature of puberty, allowing prediction of pubertal status.
Date proposal received: 
Friday, 29 November, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Friday, 6 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Endocrinology, Abnormal puberty timing, Unable to select more than one: Computer simulations/modelling/algorithms DNA sequencing RNA Statistical methods, Unable to select more than one: Development Epigenetics Expression Growth Puberty

B4770 - Exploring Transdiagnostic Trajectories in Youth Mental Health The Role of the Genome and Exposome - 06/12/2024

B number: 
B4770
Principal applicant name: 
Sinan Guloksuz | Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University (The Netherlands)
Co-applicants: 
Angelo Arias Magnasco, MSc, Dr. Lotta-Katrin Pries, Dr. Bochao Danae Lin
Title of project: 
Exploring Transdiagnostic Trajectories in Youth Mental Health: The Role of the Genome and Exposome
Proposal summary: 

This project aims to improve our understanding of how mental health conditions emerge and develop during childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. By studying the interplay between biological and environmental factors, we aim to uncover how these influences can either contribute to drive or prevent the onset of mental ill-health. This research is part of the Youth-GEMs project, a European consortium dedicated to investigating gene-environment interactions in the mental health trajectories of young people (ALSPAC proposal B3879).

Impact of research: 
This project is expected to have a significant impact across multiple domains: scientific research, clinical practice, and policy-making. By creating an accessible knowledge platform, it will enhance our understanding of mental health and illness trajectories during critical developmental stages. The project will also contribute to the development of robust prediction tools for early intervention, enabling improved healthcare for young people. Ultimately, this work aims to reduce suffering, disability, and the socioeconomic consequences of mental health disorders, fostering a healthier and more resilient society.
Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 5 December, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Friday, 6 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Mental health - Psychology, Psychiatry, Cognition, Mental health, Statistical methods, Environment - enviromental exposure, pollution, Genetic epidemiology

B4771 - MODELLING THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF CHILDHOOD ANXIETY PROBLEMS - 09/12/2024

B number: 
B4771
Principal applicant name: 
Mara Violato | University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Shuye Yu
Title of project: 
MODELLING THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF CHILDHOOD ANXIETY PROBLEMS
Proposal summary: 

This research will adopt a life course approach to the assessment of child mental health outcomes and associated costs. Primary analyses of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) will be conducted to identify the natural history of child anxiety problems into early adulthood, and quantify their lasting effects - over the life cycle - in terms of educational attainments, adult health, employment and, if possible, associated health and social care use, and productivity costs.

Impact of research: 
Producing evidence-base on the consequences of early mental health problems so to encourage prevention/early intervention.
Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 5 December, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Friday, 6 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Health Economics, Mental health, Statistical methods, Child anxiety problems Child mental health problems Applied econometrics and statistics

B4769 - Hormones rhythms and responses Exploring the role of aldosterone obesity and hypertension in young people - 17/01/2025

B number: 
B4769
Principal applicant name: 
Thomas Upton | Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School (UK)
Co-applicants: 
Title of project: 
Hormones, rhythms and responses: Exploring the role of aldosterone, obesity and hypertension in young people
Proposal summary: 

The number of young people (aged under 40) being diagnosed with high blood pressure is increasing. Patients with high blood pressure are often overweight or obese and together this substantially increases their risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. At the moment, mechanisms linking obesity and hypertension in young people are not very well understood but abnormalities in a hormone called aldosterone have been associated with both pathologies. There is increasing evidence that the contribution of aldosterone to blood pressure and cardiovascular disease is substantially under recognised. This project proposes to recruit participants in the ALSPAC cohort to perform a short but high-dimensional observational study. I will use a non-invasive biological sampling technique called microdialysis to measure the dynamics of aldosterone in relation to sleep, activity, posture, and internal body rhythms in obese people with and without hypertension, and in a non-obese control comparison group. Access associated phenotype and longitudinal data related to blood pressure and other parameters from ALSPAC will provide enormous extra value.

Impact of research: 
This research will contribute to an increasing body of evidence linking abnormalities in aldosterone with abnormalities in blood pressure, as well as providing new insights into the relationships with body weight. Given the high prevalence of both hypertension and obesity and the large health and societal burden these diseases have, the impact is likely to be large. On a more personal level, as the research is part of a personal Fellowship, it will help the PI towards establishing research independence
Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 5 December, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 5 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Physiology, Obesity, Computer simulations/modelling/algorithms, Mass spectrometry, Medical imaging, Biological samples -e.g. blood, cell lines, saliva, etc., Biomarkers - e.g. cotinine, fatty acids, haemoglobin, etc., Blood pressure, BMI, Cardiovascular, Hormones - cortisol, IGF, thyroid, Kidney function, Liver function, Metabolic - metabolism, Sleep, Microdialysis Sleep assessment Visceral fat quantification (DXA) Blood pressure/body composition trends

B4767 - Enhancing Genetic Insights Through Longitudinal Analysis and Novel Statistical Tools - 06/12/2024

B number: 
B4767
Principal applicant name: 
Ole A. Andreassen | Centre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (Norway)
Co-applicants: 
Jakub Kopal
Title of project: 
Enhancing Genetic Insights Through Longitudinal Analysis and Novel Statistical Tools
Proposal summary: 

Complex human genetic disorders are major contributors to global morbidity and mortality. Understanding their underlying pathophysiology is essential for advancing treatment and prevention. These disorders have heritability estimates between 40-80% and are considered polygenic, involving the interplay of multiple genes alongside environmental influences. This complexity complicates efforts to understand causal factors and disease mechanisms, predict individual susceptibility and uncover the molecular mechanisms involved, both of which are critical to improving treatment options. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have uncovered numerous trait-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in diverse complex phenotypes. However, existing methods largely overlook the dynamic interactions between genetic and environmental factors over time, limiting our ability to fully understand and predict the progression of complex human disorders. This proposal aims to utilize ALSPAC data to investigate the genetic architecture of human traits, with a focus on the complex interplay among genetic factors and environmental influences, in mental disorders and co-morbid conditions. Leveraging ALSPAC’s rich longitudinal data, we will analyze SNPs linked to both baseline and longitudinal phenotypes and their changes over time, advancing our understanding of the dynamic genetic and environmental contributions to the development and progression of these traits.

Impact of research: 
The likely impact of this research will be significant in advancing our understanding of causal factors and disease mechanisms, as well as genetic risk prediction and understanding the progression of complex human disorders. This will provide valuable insights into the dynamic nature of genetic and environmental contributions to mental health and other complex traits, leading to earlier and more tailored interventions. Clinically, this work could pave the way for implementing age-specific risk assessments, allowing healthcare providers to make more informed, personalized decisions in managing mental health and related co-morbid conditions.
Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 5 December, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 5 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Genetics, Addiction - e.g. alcohol, illicit drugs, smoking, gambling, etc., Behaviour - e.g. antisocial behaviour, risk behaviour, etc., Developmental disorders - autism, Cognitive impairment, Hypertension, Mental health, Computer simulations/modelling/algorithms, Gene mapping, GWAS, Medical imaging, Metabolomics, Statistical methods, Biomarkers - e.g. cotinine, fatty acids, haemoglobin, etc., Cohort studies - attrition, bias, participant engagement, ethics, Environment - enviromental exposure, pollution, Genetics, Genome wide association study, Methods - e.g. cross cohort analysis, data mining, mendelian randomisation, etc.

B4764 - Exploring the Impact of Poverty on Child Well-being A Longitudinal Analysis of Mental Health and Criminal Behaviours - 05/12/2024

B number: 
B4764
Principal applicant name: 
Gemma Hammerton | University of Bristol (United Kingdom)
Co-applicants: 
Boyang Yu, Professor Kate Tilling, Professor George Leckie, Dr Richard Parker, Dr Alex Kwong
Title of project: 
Exploring the Impact of Poverty on Child Well-being: A Longitudinal Analysis of Mental Health and Criminal Behaviours
Proposal summary: 

People who experience early life family financial hardship are more likely to encounter mental health challenges and engage in criminal behaviours during adolescence. However, fewer studies have explored how these outcomes in adulthood are influenced by early family financial hardship, especially criminal behaviour. Interestingly, while most people’s criminal behaviours peak during mid- to late-adolescence and diminish during early adulthood, a small proportion of individuals continue involvement in criminal behaviour during adulthood. Understanding the extent of this criminal behaviour continuation and how it is influenced by early life family financial hardship is important but under researched.

Previous studies tend to measure family socioeconomic status (usually with family income, parental education and occupation) and its association with later outcomes. This broad concept could potentially lead to oversimplification, whereas examining financial hardship alone allows for a more targeted analysis, shedding light on the specific challenges posed by economic constraints and their direct impact on offspring mental health and criminal behaviours. Moreover, it is important to distinguish between people’s feeling about their financial situation and the actual financial figures, as these perspectives can influence outcomes differently. Having a precise measurement for exposures can provide reliable conclusions for our findings and can promote more effective interventions and utilisation for public policy.

Previous studies have shown parental mental health and parenting styles influence the effects of family financial hardship on offspring (Devenish et al., 2017). However, fewer studies have explored how adolescents’ self-esteem, which indicates how people feel about themselves, can influence associations between family financial hardship with depression and criminal behaviour in adulthood, despite strong evidence for associations between self-esteem and mental health (Keane & Loades, 2017).

Comparing with early life financial hardship, more recent economic stresses can also impact young people’s wellbeing (Dunn et al., 2018). Given that many people live away from their parents and have their own work/study, their own financial situation can also associate with their mental health outcomes and potential engagement of criminal behaviours. Therefore, how adulthood financial situation relates to young adults’ mental health and criminal behaviour, is also an important avenue for research.

Impact of research: 
This project will advance our understanding of the interplay between family financial hardship during childhood and the long-term effects on mental health and criminal behaviour across early adulthood. By integrating findings from a diverse set of analytical methods and leveraging longitudinal data, our research aims to provide insights into the critical periods and potential intervention points to mitigate long-term adverse effects specifically because of financial disadvantages. We also expect our findings to generate actionable insights to inform public policies and intervention strategies aimed at reducing the adverse impacts of financial disadvantages on mental health and criminal behaviour. These insights will focus on promoting mental health resilience and reducing criminal behaviour through early and sustained interventions. This PhD project will result in at least three publications using ALSPAC data. Findings will also be disseminated at through presentations at various international conferences and internally at the University of Bristol.
Date proposal received: 
Monday, 2 December, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 5 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Epidemiology, Behaviour - e.g. antisocial behaviour, risk behaviour, etc., Mental health, Statistical methods, Childhood - childcare, childhood adversity, Statistical methods

B4766 - Using Shopping Data to Explore the Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health - 12/12/2024

B number: 
B4766
Principal applicant name: 
Romana Burgess | University of Bristol
Co-applicants: 
Dr Anya Skatova, Dr Laura Fryer
Title of project: 
Using Shopping Data to Explore the Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health
Proposal summary: 

This project will use shopping data to explore COVID-19's impact on mental health. Previous research (Kwong et al., 2020) showed increased anxiety for ALSPAC participants during the pandemic, while depression remained stable. We build on this by introducing novel behavioural data from loyalty cards, which offer detailed, objective insights into individual purchasing behaviours. Supermarket data captures individual behaviours through the purchase of food, alcohol, tobacco, and over-the-counter medications—key indicators of coping mechanisms during periods of stress and anxiety (Jia et al., 2020). This project will look at purchase patterns before, during and after the pandemic. We will compare these purchasing patterns with mental health data from self-reports and medical records, enabling us to better understand the breadth and long-term effects of COVID-19 on population mental health.

Kwong et al. (2020): Mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in two longitudinal UK population cohorts - PMC (nih.gov))
Jia et al. (2002): Mental health in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-sectional analyses from a community cohort study

Impact of research: 
Our research aims to benefit the health and care system by identifying patterns in shopping behaviour, such as increased painkiller use or alcohol consumption, that may signal worsening mental health. This could enable earlier detection and intervention, improving outcomes for individuals. Historically, research on these lifestyle choices relied on self-report data, which is prone to biases. By using objective shopping data, this study would offer a novel approach to uncovering lifestyle choices linked to mental health, providing healthcare professionals with actionable insights to inform timely and targeted support.
Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 3 December, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Tuesday, 3 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Statistics/methodology, Addiction - e.g. alcohol, illicit drugs, smoking, gambling, etc., Behaviour - e.g. antisocial behaviour, risk behaviour, etc., Mental health, Pain, Statistical methods, Linkage, Statistical methods

B4757 - Investigating the contributions of fetal and maternal genetic variation in GDF15 in nausea vomiting and hyperemesis gravid aru - 02/12/2024

B number: 
B4757
Principal applicant name: 
Rachel Freathy | University of Exeter (UK)
Co-applicants: 
Ms Rhian Swarbrick, Dr Rob Beamont, Miss Annika Jaitner
Title of project: 
Investigating the contributions of fetal and maternal genetic variation in GDF15, in nausea, vomiting and hyperemesis gravid aru
Proposal summary: 

References to previously published work in the summary below are given as
PubMed IDs.
Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) is estimated to occur in around 70%
of women globally, with 1.1% of women estimated to experience severe cases,
diagnosed as Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) (PMID: 23863575). HG is associated
with dehydration and weight loss, which can result in hospitalisation and have
significant detrimental effects for both mother and fetus. These include increased
risk of morbidity, placental complications, small for gestational age birth, maternal
psychological distress and increased risk of developmental delay for offspring
(PMID: 35367190, PMID: 25898368, PMID: 23360164, PMID: 33713683, PMID:
21413857) .
A recent study (PMID: 38092039) made great progress in understanding a major
cause of NVP and HG. Using a variety of analyses, especially of human genetic
data, the authors showed that maternal sensitivity to a protein released from the
placenta called growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), is key causal risk factor.
This finding was exciting as it suggested avenues for future research into
prevention or treatment. Evidence for the role of GDF15 included associations of
variants (single letter changes in the DNA code) in the GDF15 gene region with
both risk of NVP or HG, and with GDF15 levels in the blood (PMID: 35218128,
PMID:29563502, PMID: 38092039). The finding that women who have naturally
low levels of GDF15 are more sensitive to the GDF15 released from the placenta
and more susceptible to NVP and HG, raised the possibility that a fetal genetic
variants which increase GDF15 production may also influence HG or NVP risk.
There was some evidence in a small sample that the genotype of the fetus, relative
to the mother, may be associated with the proportion of fetal-placental derived
GDF15 contributing to circulating GDF15, potentially mediating experiences of
nausea and vomiting (PMID: 38092039). However, analyses of maternal and fetal
genotype data in well powered samples are needed to confirm this, which is the
focus of our proposed project. We aim to explore the maternal and fetal genetic
contributions of genetic variants to nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Impact of research: 
What do you think the likely impact of your research will be? Advancing understanding on the relationship between maternal and fetal genotypes in their contributions to nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Contribute to the evidence-base around hyperemesis gravidarum and nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, which could be utilised to identify new predictive biomarkers for early screening or new targets for treatment. We expect this work to result in at least one high impact publication.
Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 28 November, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 2 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Genetic epidemiology (including association studies and mendelian randomisation), hyperemesis gravidarum, nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, Statistical methods, nausea, vomiting, hyperemesis, pregnancy, genetics

B4758 - The impact of intergenerational transmission of mental health problems on childrens development in early life - 02/12/2024

B number: 
B4758
Principal applicant name: 
Isabel Morales-Munoz | University of Birmingham (United Kingdom)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Steven Marwaha, Prof Joht Singh Chandan, Prof Georgios Gkoutos, Dr Nicola Adderley
Title of project: 
The impact of intergenerational transmission of mental health problems on children’s development in early life
Proposal summary: 

Mental health problems can run in families, and children with parents or grandparents who struggle with mental health are at a higher risk of facing challenges in their development. For example, when parents or grandparents have mental health problems, it can sometimes lead to poorer outcomes for children. However, it’s not yet clear whether this is due to a general pattern of mental health issues or due to specific mental health conditions only. We also don’t fully understand whether some aspects of a child’s development, like their behaviour, health, or learning, are more affected than others. Importantly, not all children with a family history of mental health problems will have developmental issues. Therefore, it’s crucial to figure out what helps protect children and build resilience against these risks. To explore this, we are using data from the ALSPAC, which includes information on three generations: grandparents (G0), parents (G1), and children (G2). We aim to find out if children with a family history of mental health problems are more likely to face challenges in early childhood, such as having a difficult temperament, poor health, behavioural issues (like trouble sleeping), or delays in language development.

Impact of research: 
Our research can lead to improvements in understanding, prevention, and intervention for developmental challenges linked to the intergenerational transmission of mental health problems. For example, our research can help identify vulnerable children early, enabling timely support and monitoring. Further, understanding protective factors can empower families and communities to build resilience in children, offering practical tools and strategies to buffer against the negative effects of mental health problems in the family. Finally, this research could inform healthcare and education policies, ensuring resources are directed to programs that support children and families affected by mental health challenges across generations.
Date proposal received: 
Friday, 29 November, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 2 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Mental health - Psychology, Psychiatry, Cognition, Mental health, Statistical methods, Development, Offspring, Psychology - personality, Sleep

B4763 - Epidemiology and aetiology of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder - 19/12/2024

B number: 
B4763
Principal applicant name: 
Samuel Chawner | Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics & Genomics, Cardiff University School of Medicine (United Kingdom)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Peter Richardson
Title of project: 
Epidemiology and aetiology of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Proposal summary: 

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a severe eating disorder that causes people to avoid certain foods or limit their intake. Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID isn’t about body image—it can stem from low appetite, sensory sensitivity to textures and smells, or a fear of choking or vomiting. Affecting around 1–2% of the population, ARFID can lead to malnutrition, health complications, and significant distress.
Our research focuses on understanding ARFID’s causes and how it varies between individuals. We aim to answer big questions: Is ARFID primarily a neurodevelopmental condition, an anxiety disorder, or influenced by physical health issues? Are there distinct subtypes of ARFID requiring different treatments? What are the genetic, environmental, and developmental risk factors for ARFID, and do these differ by subtype?
To explore these questions, we will analyse ALSPAC data, alongside data from the Norwegian MoBa cohort and the Born in Bradford cohort, and work closely with people living with ARFID, healthcare providers, and the eating disorder charity Beat. By involving those with lived experience at every stage, we will ensure our findings are relevant and impactful.
This project will help identify new approaches to diagnosing and treating ARFID, creating evidence-based tools for clinicians and improving support for those affected. With ARFID research in its early stages, this work is crucial to advancing our understanding and shaping better services.
Our goal is to bring real-world benefits to individuals and families struggling with ARFID, ensuring they receive the care and support they need.

Impact of research: 
The likely impact of this research will be transformative for the understanding and management of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). By characterising the clinical heterogeneity of ARFID and identifying distinct subtypes, this work will provide a foundation for more precise and effective diagnostic criteria. Insights into the genetic and environmental factors driving ARFID will advance our understanding of its underlying causes, paving the way for personalised intervention strategies. Furthermore, the research will inform evidence-based service guidelines and resources, improving the support available for individuals and families affected by ARFID. Through co-production with people with lived experience, the findings will be directly relevant to their needs, influencing both clinical practice and public health policy to enhance early identification and treatment of ARFID.
Date proposal received: 
Sunday, 1 December, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 2 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Mental health - Psychology, Psychiatry, Cognition, Eating disorders - anorexia, bulimia, Computer simulations/modelling/algorithms, DNA sequencing, GWAS, Metabolomics, Statistical methods, Birth outcomes, BMI, Nutrition - breast feeding, diet, Parenting, Childhood - childcare, childhood adversity, Development, Environment - enviromental exposure, pollution, Genetic epidemiology, Genetics, Genomics, Genome wide association study, Metabolic - metabolism

B4762 - Preparation of new and updated NMR data for general release - 02/12/2024

B number: 
B4762
Principal applicant name: 
Laura Corbin | University of Bristol (United Kingdom)
Co-applicants: 
Ms. Maryam Makanvand, Amy Dawes, Professor Nicholas Timpson
Title of project: 
Preparation of new and updated NMR data for general release
Proposal summary: 

Nuclear Magnetic Radiation (NMR) Data assesses systematic metabolites in blood samples at 4 exiting time points in the ALSPAC cohort (G1); age 7, age 15, age 18, and at age 24. 229 metabolites were quantified (149 concentrations plus 80 ratios derived from these) including cholesterol, triglyceride, and other lipid content in lipoprotein subclass particles (very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL)), apolipoprotein-B and apolipoprotein-A-1, fatty acids and amino acids, and inflammatory glycoprotein acetyls (Bell et al 2021). There are two new updates to this data:

1- Update to data: The latest version of Nightingale Health's NMR data (Quantification library version 2020), has been improved to provide more accurate measurements. These updates ensure that the concentration levels of various biomarkers better align with those measured by clinical tests and other laboratory methods. Additionally, the data used to calibrate lipoprotein subclasses (key indicators of cholesterol and cardiovascular health) has been extended. This updated version is identical to the dataset used for analysing UK Biobank's 500,000 plasma samples between 2021 and 2024.
2- New time point at age 30: Along with the already existing timepoint in the ALSPAC NMR dataset, a new timepoint is now available at age 30

The aim of this project is to prepare the new and updated data for general release.

Impact of research: 
Great impact, allowing availability and use of new ALSPAC NMR data to engage in wider research
Date proposal received: 
Friday, 29 November, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 2 December, 2024
Keywords: 
Bioinformatics, NMR, Methods - e.g. cross cohort analysis, data mining, mendelian randomisation, etc.

B4756 - Pilot analyses for Fellowship application related to cognitive change in ALSPAC G0 mothers and partners - 29/11/2024

B number: 
B4756
Principal applicant name: 
Neil Goulding | Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol (United Kingdom)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Matthew Suderman, Professor Jean Golding, Mrs Yasmin Iles-Caven
Title of project: 
Pilot analyses for Fellowship application related to cognitive change in ALSPAC G0 mothers and partners
Proposal summary: 

This project is for conducting pilot analyses for Fellowship applications (e.g. Wellcome/MRC Career Development Awards) that I will be submitting in the area of cognitive change in ALSPAC G0 mothers and partners. Primarily, I will be calculating numbers of participants who have data on potential exposures (e.g. genetics, DNA methylation, proteomics and metabolomics) and potential outcomes (e.g. cognitive data), to see if planned analyses are feasible.

Impact of research: 
The potential impact of this research project would be a successful Fellowship application, which would then allow me the opportunity in the future to build multi-omic predictors of cognitive decline. If I succeed in acquiring a Fellowship, it could fund potential ongoing cognitive tests for ALSPAC G0 mothers and partners (see project number B4728 - Collection of new and ongoing G0 cognition data).
Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 27 November, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Friday, 29 November, 2024
Keywords: 
Mental health - Psychology, Psychiatry, Cognition, Cognitive impairment, Simple exploratory analyses to calculate numbers of participants who have data on potential exposures and outcomes., Ageing

B4755 - Predictive Power of BMI-PRS Across Different Life Stages A Central Step in Understanding the Genetic Basis of Obesity - 29/11/2024

B number: 
B4755
Principal applicant name: 
Dr. Jeroen van Rooij | Department of Internal medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (The Netherlands)
Co-applicants: 
Bahar Sedaghatihayat, MSc, Dr. Janine Felix, j.felix@erasmusmc.nl
Title of project: 
Predictive Power of BMI-PRS Across Different Life Stages: A Central Step in Understanding the Genetic Basis of Obesity
Proposal summary: 

Our genetic makeup, which is stable across life, influences our health and can serve as an early risk indicator for various diseases. Precise genetic tests exist for single-gene diseases, but common and complex conditions like obesity result from the subtle effects of many genes. We use Polygenic Risk Scores (PRSs) to assess comprehensive genetic risk for diseases or traits, encompassing many (hundreds to millions of) genetic variants. For BMI, for which high values can present a significant health concern, a PRS containing 941 common genetic variants influencing adult BMI has been established using UK Biobank data. However, these genetic variants are identified in mostly adult populations (> 50 years), and their performance in other age groups has been less well established. The transition from normal to high BMI and its onset at various life stages, particularly from childhood to adulthood, remains complex and warrants deeper exploration.

Impact of research: 
By analyzing the predictive power of BMI-PRS on BMI trajectories from childhood through adulthood, this research seeks to provide a more nuanced understanding of the genetic basis of body mass index.
Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 27 November, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Friday, 29 November, 2024
Keywords: 
Genetics, Obesity, Polygenic risk scores, Genetics

B4759 - VirScan Assessing viral epidemiology over the pandemic period in ALSPAC - 16/01/2025

B number: 
B4759
Principal applicant name: 
Fergus Hamilton | MRC-IEU
Co-applicants: 
Nic Timpson
Title of project: 
VirScan: Assessing viral epidemiology over the pandemic period in ALSPAC
Proposal summary: 

Viruses are ubiquitous pathogens that cause innumerable infections each year in humans. Many infections are sub-clinical or only result in mild symptoms, while some result in serious clinical illness. There is a well recognised seasonality to many viruses and there is a complex interaction between behaviour, exposure, season, and circulating strains that means that viral epidemiology is complex. VirScan is a new technique that allows for simultaneous measurement of exposure to all known human viruses in a single human sample. This technique means that we can identify the 'infection history' of a given individual based on one serum sample. In this proposal, we aim to use this VirScan technology to profile the response of ALSPAC participants to viruses over the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. This will allow us unique insight to the changes in viral epidemiology over this time period, and answer key questions about the durability of infection response and how viral epidemiology changed over this time period. A comparator analysis will be performed in TwinsUK to compare and contrast.

Impact of research: 
greater understanding of infectious disease epidemiolgoy over the period.
Date proposal received: 
Friday, 29 November, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Friday, 29 November, 2024
Keywords: 
Microbiology - Bacteriology, Infection, GWAS, Proteomics, Biological samples -e.g. blood, cell lines, saliva, etc.

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