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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B2286 - Replication of genetic findings for VPS4A and THRB genes in ALSPAC sample - 28/08/2014

B number: 
B2286
Principal applicant name: 
Prof Gunter Schumann (King's College London, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Tianye Jia (King's College London, UK)
Title of project: 
Replication of genetic findings for VPS4A and THRB genes in ALSPAC sample.
Proposal summary: 

In the IMAGEN sample of 2000 adolescent sample from the European cohort, we have detected a strong association between SNP rs16958736 (of VPS4A gene) and the activation of striatum (i.e. caudate, putamen and nucleus accumbens) in 'large win' vs 'no win' contrast of Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) task with P=1.30E-7. A following haplotype analysis then found that the same haplotype that was associated with the activation of striatum was also in association with the hyperactivity (ADHD) assessment from SDQ questionnaire. Meanwhile, in Drosophila, we found that both over-expression and knock-out of VPS4A could alter the frequency of locomotion activity of flies. By searching in the literatures, we then found that VPS4A encodes an ATPase which is involved in trafficking of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), including dopamine and noradrenaline. We therefore hypothesize that VPS4A may influence synaptic plasticity through regulating signalling at the dopaminergic and noradrenergic synapse.

In another paper, we have detected the SNP rs2067499 from THRB (Thyroid Hormone Receptor B) in strong association with ACC (anterior cingular cortex) and INS (insula) with P=1.19E-7, the same SNP was then found with significant association with ADHD assessment from SDQ with P=0.014. We propose that a mild resistance to TH (Thyroid Hormone) is associated with increased ACC-INS connectivity and results in ADHD-symptoms by enhancing sensitivity to external and internal stimuli.

Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 6 August, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 28 August, 2014
Keywords: 
Genetics
Primary keyword: 
ADHD

B2285 - The Influence of Childhood Motor Ability on Adolescent Physical Activity and Bone Strength - 14/08/2014

B number: 
B2285
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Alexander Ireland (Manchester Metropolitan University, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Jon Tobias (University of Bristol, UK), Prof Alan Emond (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
The Influence of Childhood Motor Ability on Adolescent Physical Activity and Bone Strength.
Proposal summary: 

Aims:

The overall aim of this project is to investigate the longitudinal relationships between early motor milestones, motor skills in childhood and physical activity and bone strength in adolescence

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 11 August, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 14 August, 2014
Keywords: 
Motor Co-ordination, Physical Activity
Primary keyword: 
Bones

B2284 - Early Life Influences on Irreversible Obstructive Airway Disease in Adolescence - 14/08/2014

B number: 
B2284
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Katharine Lazarus (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof John Henderson (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Early Life Influences on Irreversible Obstructive Airway Disease in Adolescence.
Proposal summary: 

Aims and Hypotheses

The project therefore plans to investigate whether low birth weight, and rapid early growth (0-2 years), in addition to asthma, early transient wheeze and maternal smoking, are associated with the development of specific obstructive pulmonary function abnormalities in adolescence.

We have hypothesised that there is an association with low birth weight/IUGR and the development of reduced pulmonary function; that there is also an association between rapid growth during 0-2 years and reduced pulmonary function; and that asthma may mediate this. In addition, the project plans to look at whether low birth weight explains the association between maternal smoking and reduced function.

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 11 August, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 14 August, 2014
Keywords: 
Growth
Primary keyword: 
Respiratory

B2282 - Early life/adolescent influences on STI outcomes - 07/08/2014

B number: 
B2282
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Artemis Koukounari (King's College London, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Andrew Pickles (King's College London, UK), Prof John Macleod (University of Bristol, UK), Prof Kate Tilling (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Katy Turner (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Early life/adolescent influences on STI outcomes.
Proposal summary: 

Aim/Objectives:

The major aim of the present study would be to examine how early life (i.e. parenting practices and genetic parental proxies as well as psychopathology problems during childhood) and early adolescent variables (i.e. adolescent risky sexual and substance use behaviours as well as adolescent psychopathology problems) jointly influence later ("distal") disease outcome such as Chlamydia infection during middle and late adolescence (i.e. 17-22 years old) or/and teenage pregancies. We would test hypotheses about the mechanisms by which contextual factors or developmental processes affect developmental change and ultimately chlamydia infection at the age-range of 17-22 years old and teenage pregnancies. We will be considering methods that not only consider the longitudinal nature of the data, but also maintain the distinction between intra-and inter-individual change. Careful consideration would be given to aspects such as measurement error, the theory of change for the variables in the model, the critical role of time in interpreting results, and the variety of possible indirect effects that will be a part of each considered model. Different approaches of causal mediation modelling would be considered while a range of sensitivity analyses would be performed in order to estimate and evaluate the assumptions for causal interpretation. Although ALSPAC contains a wealth of data at different ages that enables assessment of these pathways, it also introduces a number of additional methodological challenges such as missing data problems or low power for some socio-economic or/and geographically variable exposures. For instance, children from lower socioeconomic groups were more likely to drop out of ALSPAC over time and for those who remained in the study a very low prevalence of C. trachomatis are currently found.

Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 6 August, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 7 August, 2014
Keywords: 
Parenting, Risk Behaviour
Primary keyword: 
Sexual Health

B2281 - Bullying and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases - 07/08/2014

B number: 
B2281
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Marion Tegethoff (University of Basel, Switzerland, Europe)
Co-applicants: 
Prof John Henderson (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Alexander Jones (University College London, UK), Dr Tanya Lereya (University of Warwick, UK), Prof. Dr Gunther Meinlschmidt (Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany, Europe), Prof Dieter Wolke (University of Warwick, UK)
Title of project: 
Bullying and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Proposal summary: 

AIMS

The epidemic of non-communicable diseases is challenging the health care system, has advanced into the focus of major medical journals and public health authorities worldwide, and The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently claimed to raise the priority accorded to non-communicable diseases. For example, it is cardiovascular diseases that are one of the leading non-communicable disease causes of premature morbidity and mortality worldwide and that will even remain among the three leading causes of burden of disease according to projections of mortality and burden of disease to 2030.

Likewise, respiratory diseases represent a major challenge for public health, as they have a huge economic impact and are highly prevalent both in developed and developing countries; it has been estimated that by 2025, an additional 100 million people will be suffering from asthma. Therefore, to improve urgently needed preventive approaches, the study of risk factors, including early-life influences, using prospective cohort studies has been identified as a grand challenge in chronic non-communicable diseases.

It has long been known that psychological factors have the potential to cause, influence, or exacerbate physical disease processes via their impact on biological function Among such psychological factors, the concept of school bullying has received growing attention as health risk factor in recent years. School bullying has been associated with an increased risk of psychological symptoms and psychopathologies, medication use, suicide and self-harm 17 18, and psychosomatic and physical complaints. Moreover, first evidence indicates that school bullying is associated with alterations in stress reactivity, and workplace-bullying victims may also have a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.

However, the role of school bullying within the aetiology of chronic physical diseases has hardly been addressed to date. The World Health Organization has claimed to promote the understanding of the morbidity and mortality associated with bullying in order to give this psychosocial hazard a stronger level of worldwide public health attention and to improve action towards it. Therefore, in line with current strategic research goals targeting amongst others etiological factors of widespread diseases, the aim of the proposed study is to improve our understanding of the role of school bullying especially with regard to non-communicable physical diseases in childhood and adolescence, using well-established indicators of (i.e. peripheral biomarkers and data from clinical examinations) and questionnaire/interview information on physical diseases, with a special focus on cardiovascular and respiratory health. The major advantage of using data from the ALSPAC study is the opportunity to use longitudinal data based on a large sample of adolescents, including well-established biomarkers of and clinical information on cardiovascular and respiratory health, together with self-reports and external reports on physical health.

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 28 July, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 7 August, 2014
Keywords: 
Cardiovascular , Respiratory
Primary keyword: 
Bullying

B2280 - Non-patient recruitment into research studies by genotype A new ethical challenge or same-old story - 07/08/2014

B number: 
B2280
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Frances Butcher (Not used 0, Not used 0)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Nic Timpson (University of Bristol, UK), Prof Richard Huxtable (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Helen Lambert (Not used 0, Not used 0)
Title of project: 
Non-patient recruitment into research studies by genotype: A new ethical challenge or same-old story?
Proposal summary: 

AIMS

  1. Investigating how participants interviewed draw upon different influences, perceptions and ethical reasoning in discussing issues regarding recruitment to RBG studies.

  1. Exploring the degree which participants suggest increased or decreased disclosure of individual genetic information, including anticipated and incidental findings, would affect their views on these studies and willingness to participate/work in these areas.

  1. Using specific case studies of current or planned ALSPAC RBG studies to aid participants in clarifying and challenging their own views on RBG.

  1. Outlining the identified issues and opinions on best practice in the form of a written set of principles, with the aim to inform future work in this area.
Date proposal received: 
Monday, 4 August, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 7 August, 2014
Keywords: 
Ethics, Qualitative Research
Primary keyword: 
Recall By Genotype

B2279 - Factors affecting response rates to ALSPAC questionnaires - 24/07/2014

B number: 
B2279
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Issy Bray (University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Kate Tilling (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Factors affecting response rates to ALSPAC questionnaires.
Proposal summary: 

AIMS

The aim is to analyse response rates over time to all ALSPAC questionnaires, to investigate predictors and modifiable organisational factors associated with improving response rates.

Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 22 July, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 24 July, 2014
Keywords: 
Engagement
Primary keyword: 
Methods

B2278 - Does body mass index influence smoking behaviour A Mendelian Randomisation study - 24/07/2014

B number: 
B2278
Principal applicant name: 
Miss Amy Taylor (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Marcus Munafo (University of Bristol, UK), Miss Michelle Taylor (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Does body mass index influence smoking behaviour? A Mendelian Randomisation study.
Proposal summary: 

Aim

To investigate if body mass index causally influences smoking behaviour using a Mendelian randomization approach.

Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 22 July, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 24 July, 2014
Keywords: 
Smoking, BMI
Primary keyword: 
GWAS

B2277 - Early pathways to borderline personality symptoms at age 11 the role of temperament and maladaptive parenting - 24/07/2014

B number: 
B2277
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Odilia Laceulle (Utrecht University, The Netherlands, Europe)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Dieter Wolke (University of Warwick, UK), Dr Catherine Winsper (University of Warwick, UK), Prof. Dr. Marcel van Aken (Utrecht University, The Netherlands, Europe)
Title of project: 
Early pathways to borderline personality symptoms at age 11: the role of temperament and maladaptive parenting.
Proposal summary: 

AIMS:

We aim to use the ALSPAC data to study the relationships between child temperament, maladaptive parenting and adolescent BPD. More specifically, this study is aimed at disentangling the nauture of associations by testing direct, moderation and mediation effects.

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 21 July, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 24 July, 2014
Keywords: 
Behavioural Problems, Parenting
Primary keyword: 
Personality

B2276 - Bivariate genome-wide association study of birth weight and endophenotypes related to five diseases in later life - 24/07/2014

B number: 
B2276
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Dave Evans (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Nicole Warrington (University of Queensland, Australia, ROW), Prof John Newnham (University of Western Australia, ROW), Prof Craig Pennell (University of Queensland, Australia, ROW), Prof George Davey Smith (University of Bristol, UK), Prof Debbie A Lawlor (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Bivariate genome-wide association study of birth weight and endophenotypes related to five diseases in later life.
Proposal summary: 

AIMS:

Aim 1: Genome-wide bivariate association analysis of birth weight and key quantitative phenotypes from the 20 year follow-up studies within Raine and ALSPAC.

To date, two genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been conducted for birth weight (involving the investigators of this proposal), which identified seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that effect birth weight (14, 15). Two of these SNPs are in genes previously associated with type 2 diabetes, ADCY5 and CDKAL1, highlighting the genetic links between fetal growth and postnatal metabolism. At both of these loci, the birth weight lowering allele was associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. In addition, the authors investigated a further 47 type 2 diabetes associated variants and found the type 2 diabetes risk alleles at GCK and MTNR2B were associated with higher birth weight. These results indicate that there may be multiple genetic pathways which link birth weight to adult disease. A further link with the DOHAD hypothesis was through the ADRB1 gene, a locus which was associated with birth weight and adult blood pressure. Of the final four SNPs, two were in height associated genes, indicating a continued link with growth over the postnatal period. Although these SNPs found to date for effecting birth weight have pleiotropic effects with risk of disease in adults, the percentage of variance explained by these confirmed loci (0.76%) is lower than many other complex phenotypes (for example, 1.45% for BMI (16), 5.8% for BMD at the femoral neck (17)). Given twin and family studies estimated heritability of birth weight from the fetal genome to be between 10 and 30% (18, 19), there is still a substantial genetic component to be described.

Bivariate genetic association analysis has been shown to have increased statistical power over univariate analysis to detect genetic variants that contribute pleiotropically to the two phenotypes in the opposite direction to the prevailing phenotypic correlation (20-22). This approach is ideal for detecting variants that underlie DOHAD. We will conduct a bivariate genome-wide analysis of birth weight and each of our key phenotypes, with the hypothesis of increasing the statistical power to identify novel genetic variants that have pleiotropic effects.

Aim 2: Gene-based bivariate analysis of birth weight and key quantitative phenotypes from the 20 year follow-up studies within Raine and ALSPAC.

There has recently been a lot of debate regarding the 'missing heritability', or the amount of heritability of common traits that is not accounted for by the known genetic variants (23). As with many common traits, this is seen with birth weight (as outlined above) and each of our key phenotypes. Statistical methods have been developed to estimate the proportion of variability explained by common genetic variants on genome-wide SNP chips (24). By partitioning the genome into smaller chunks of SNPs, these methods can be applied to estimate and test the heritability of a particular genomic region (25, 26). This novel statistical approach efficiently and effectively combines genetic variants across a region to assess whether regions of the genome influence trait values. Utilizing this novel approach and the bivariate structure of the data, we will conduct a bivariate analysis of birth weight and the key quantitative phenotypes by partitioning the genome-wide chip data into groups of SNPs that belong to genes.

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 21 July, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 24 July, 2014
Keywords: 
Birth Outcomes, Disease
Primary keyword: 
GWAS

B2275 - RCT of opt-in v opt-out home visits for Tracking Tracing - 24/07/2014

B number: 
B2275
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Issy Bray (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Kate Tilling (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Sian Noble (University of Bristol, UK), Mr Andy Boyd (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
RCT of opt-in v opt-out home visits for Tracking & Tracing.
Proposal summary: 

AIMS

The aim is to compare an opt-in approach with an opt-out approach to tracking and tracing 'disengaged' participants for whom ALSPAC does not have a current address in terms of effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and acceptability.

Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 17 July, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 24 July, 2014
Keywords: 
Engagement
Primary keyword: 
Methods

B2274 - RCT of choice online or paper v online only completion for YP23 questionnaire - 24/07/2014

B number: 
B2274
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Issy Bray (University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Kate Tilling (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Sian Noble (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
RCT of choice (online or paper) v online only completion for YP23 questionnaire.
Proposal summary: 

AIMS

The aim is to compare online only completion with a choice of online or paper completion in terms of response rates and costs for the YP questionnaire.

Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 17 July, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 24 July, 2014
Keywords: 
Engagement
Primary keyword: 
Methods

B2273 - Psychological influences on educational outcomes and childhood predictors of later psychiatric disorder - 17/07/2014

B number: 
B2273
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Mina Fazel (University of Oxford, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Rebecca Pearson (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Liz Washbrook (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Kate Stein (University of Oxford, UK)
Title of project: 
Psychological influences on educational outcomes and childhood predictors of later psychiatric disorder.
Proposal summary: 

Aims

To understand the impact of differential patterns of depressed mood in adolescence on educational outcomes

To describe the epidemiology and life course of somatic symptoms in childhood and how they might be associated with psychiatric disorder in adulthood.

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 14 July, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 17 July, 2014
Keywords: 
Mental Health, Psychology
Primary keyword: 
Education

B2272 - Valorisation of birth cohorts to prevent obesity neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders - 17/07/2014

B number: 
B2272
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Caroline Relton (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof George Davey Smith (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Dheeraj Rai (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Lindsey Gaunt (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Valorisation of birth cohorts to prevent obesity, neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders.
Proposal summary: 

Objective 1: To generate and supplement existing genetic, epigenomic and metabolomic data across five large European cohort studies to provide an unparalleled resource for investigating associations between early life factors and subsequent obesity, neurodevelopmental and mental health outcomes.

Objective 2: To integrate inter-generational phenotypic, genetic, epigenomic and metabolomic data across the five cohort studies through harmonization of data and meta-analysis.

Objective 3: To identify causal relationships between prenatal exposures and metabolic and neurodevelopmental outcomes using a variety of state-of-the-art causal analytic methods including Mendelian randomization, maternal-paternal, between-sibling and cross-cohort comparisons.

Objective 4: To synthesise information to inform and prioritise future interventions and public health policy that will have a meaningful and lasting impact upon the incidence of these health challenges.

Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 9 July, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 17 July, 2014
Keywords: 
Mental Health, Obesity
Primary keyword: 
Genetics

B2271 - Neuro-developmental trajectories and adult mental disorder - 17/07/2014

B number: 
B2271
Principal applicant name: 
Prof Anthony David (King's College London, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Stanley Zammit (University of Bristol, UK), Prof Glyn Lewis (University College London, UK), Dr Avraham ("Avi") Reichenberg (Not used 0, Not used 0)
Title of project: 
Neuro-developmental trajectories and adult mental disorder.
Proposal summary: 

Aims:

(I) We will test the hypothesis that young adults who fulfil our operational criteria for 'psychotic disorder' will show significant changes (anomalous developmental trajectories) between age 20 and 24 in: (a) fronto-temporal white matter tracts; and (b) medial temporal grey matter, and (c) dorsolateral pre-frontal activation during a working memory task. These abnormalities will be qualitatively similar to but less severe than those established in psychotic disorders.

(II) We will also test the prediction that connectivity parameters namely efficiency and density, which were found to be abnormal (reduced) in participants at age 20 with psychotic experiences will have normalised or progressed according to recovery/persistence of psychotic experiences (PEs) at age 24, respectively.

(III) Finally we will take the opportunity to carry out a resting state fMRI series in order to enhance our structural graph theoretical analyses with functional connectivity analyses which may then be related to prior psychopathology, that at age 24 and subsequently.

Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 9 July, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 17 July, 2014
Keywords: 
MRI, PLIKS
Primary keyword: 
Psychosis

B2268 - Runs of homozygoisty and human quantitative traits ROHGen - 11/07/2014

B number: 
B2268
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Ozren Polasek (University of Edinburgh, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Dr James "Jim" Wilson (University of Edinburgh, UK), Dr Peter Joshi (University of Edinburgh, UK), Dr Tonu Esko (Broad Institute, USA), Dr Nic Timpson (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Runs of homozygoisty and human quantitative traits (ROHGen).
Proposal summary: 

The primary intent of ROHgen is to investigate the influence of ROH on complex traits; to show for which traits and end points there is evidence of recessive effects, how strong they are and eventually potentially to count and map these effects. This will be done by conducting the same analyses across many cohorts and then sharing various statistics relating to ROH or trait associations for central meta-analysis.

Hypothesis: ROHs are associated with health-related outcomes and quantitative traits of interest.

Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 9 July, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Friday, 11 July, 2014
Keywords: 
Primary keyword: 
GWAS

B2270 - Genomic Framework for OSteoporosis SEQuencing studies GEFOS-SEQ - 10/07/2014

B number: 
B2270
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Jon Tobias (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Dave Evans (University of Queensland, Australia, ROW), Prof Debbie A Lawlor (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Genomic Framework for OSteoporosis SEQuencing studies (GEFOS-SEQ).
Proposal summary: 

The FP7 funded GEFOS consortium identified a range of BMD-related loci by GWAS (1). This Horizon 2020 application (PI Fernando Rivadeneira, Erasmum Medical Centre, Netherlands) represents an extension of this program, intended to identify further BMD related loci by harnessing whole gemome sequencing technology. It is intended that ALSPAC will contribute to work package (WP) 2, 3 and 6.

In WP2, a musculoskeletal (MSK) chip with GWAS and customized content, which after genotyping ~60,000 young and elderly individuals from 36 studies previously involved in GEFOS (mostly European), will allow the discovery of common, less frequent and rare variants; together with fine mapping of gene regions associated with traits and pathological conditions of the MSK system including BMD, fracture risk, sarcopenia and frailty. ALSPAC mothers will form part of a replication cohort for novel genotype-BMD associations arising from this MSK chip.

In WP3, BMD associated variants will be analysed in relation to different endophenotypes, based on our previous studies suggesting different genetic influences on trabecular and cortical bone (2-4). Associations will be analysed between genetic markers of interest and cortical bone phenotypes obtained in ALSPAC off spring as measured by tibial pQCT, and trabecular bone phenotypes as obtained in ALSPAC mothers by radial pQCT.

In WP6, genetic influences on BMD identified in WP2 will be examined using a lifecourse approach, by comparing the strength of associations (as reflected by beta coefficients) across different times of life. Results from ALSPAC offspring (total body DXA at age 9 and 17, hip DXA at 13 and 17), and ALSPAC mothers (pre versus postmenopausal hip BMD) will contribute to these analyses.

It is envisaged that ALSPAC genetic data will be in the form of genome wide data imputed to 1000 genomes, as previously obtained. In the case of rare variants of interest which are not covered by imputation, there may be a need for custom genotyping. Bone outcomes will comprise DXA and pQCT measures as previously obtained in ALSPAC off spring and mothers.

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 7 July, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 10 July, 2014
Keywords: 
GWAS, Osteoporosis
Primary keyword: 
Bones

B2269 - Relationship between breastfeeding and autism - 10/07/2014

B number: 
B2269
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Dheeraj Rai (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Jean Golding (University of Bristol, UK), Miss Anna Guyatt (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Relationship between breastfeeding and autism.
Proposal summary: 

AIMS:

The aim of this study is to examine whether children with higher autistic trait scores are more likely to experience reduced breastfeeding exposure, and the direction of this possible relationship. We will look at two opposing hypotheses; that reduced breastfeeding duration may be an aetiological risk factor for the subsequent development of autism spectrum disorders, or that an early manifestation of autistic traits is a decrease in the duration of breastfeeding relative to the mother's intended duration.

Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 9 July, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 10 July, 2014
Keywords: 
Autism
Primary keyword: 
Breast Feeding

B2267 - Is oculomotor control a potentially useful biomarker of neurocognitive function in young adults - 10/07/2014

B number: 
B2267
Principal applicant name: 
Miss Cathy E M Williams (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Ian Gilchrist (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Stanley Zammit (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Kate Northstone (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Is oculomotor control a potentially useful biomarker of neurocognitive function in young adults?
Proposal summary: 

Our proposed study of pursuit and saccade eye movemets in the ALSPAC cohort will allow many hypotheses to be tested but initially we will concentrate on:

Variation in anti-saccade task accuracy with IQ (as per Evdokimifdis et al)

Variation in smooth pursuit and saccade function with PLIKS score (as part of Zammit et al's programme)

Variation in sacccade fuction as a measure of executive control, according to previous exposure to potential neurotoxins such as tobacco, alocohol, cannabis, other drugs

Variation in oculomotor parameters according to previous stressful experiences - this is relevant to the current popularity of eye-movemet based thereapy for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Variations in oculomotor control according to genotype for specific candidate genes and as the phenotype for GWAS studies of genetic predictors of oculomotor control

Further researc questions will be developed in line with current literature and withstrategic funding calls.

Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 9 July, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 10 July, 2014
Keywords: 
Primary keyword: 
Vision

B2266 - The role of metabolomics and gut microbiome in modifying arterial disease progression in relation to adiposity - 10/07/2014

B number: 
B2266
Principal applicant name: 
Prof John Deanfield (University College London, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Nicholas Finer (University College London, UK), Prof Nishi Chaturvedi (Imperial College London, UK), Prof Alun Hughes (Imperial College London, UK)
Title of project: 
The role of metabolomics and gut microbiome in modifying arterial disease progression in relation to adiposity.
Proposal summary: 

AIMS

1. To assess whether change in dietary habits from adolescence to young adulthood can modify the gut flora, increase the production of noxious metabolites (TMAO) and accelerate arterial disease progression.

2. To assess whether dietary supplementation of probiotics can modify the gut flora and can benefit the lipid profile and vascular risk of overweight and obese individuals

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 30 June, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 10 July, 2014
Keywords: 
Diet, Metabolomics, Microbiome
Primary keyword: 
Cardiovascular

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