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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B2244 - Affective cognitive control and depression creating a new evidence base for prevention - 29/05/2014

B number: 
B2244
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Gemma Lewis (University College London, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Glyn Lewis (University College London, UK), Dr Frances Rice (University College London, UK)
Title of project: 
Affective cognitive control and depression: creating a new evidence base for prevention.
Proposal summary: 

AIMS

The aim of the proposed project is to investigate a specific cognitive process that has been hypothesized by several neuropsychological models to play a causal role in depression; affective cognitive control. The study aims to address the lack of population based studies using computer based behavioural measures of affective cognitive control to investigate a) cross-sectional and longitudinal associations with depression and b) associations between potentially preventable environmental risk factors and affective cognitive control in adolescence. Findings of the research are intended to contribute to an evidence base for new prevention strategies for depression that target affective cognitive control.

Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 22 May, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 29 May, 2014
Keywords: 
Depression
Primary keyword: 
Cognition

B2094 - Rare deleterious mutations psychiatric disease and intermediate behavioural phenotypes - 22/05/2014

B number: 
B2094
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Harriet Brown (University College London, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Dr James Lu (University College London, UK), Prof Karl Friston (University College London, UK), Prof Read Montague (Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute (VTC),, USA)
Title of project: 
Rare deleterious mutations, psychiatric disease and intermediate behavioural phenotypes.
Proposal summary: 

AIMS:

1. To assess the prevelance of rare deleterious mutations (RDMs) in control cohorts (ALSPAC and TWINSUK) and in neuropsychiatric disease cohorts sequenced as part of the UK10K project.

2. To assess the phenotypic correlates of carrying such mutations.

Date proposal received: 
Friday, 18 October, 2013
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 22 May, 2014
Keywords: 
Mental Health
Primary keyword: 
UK10K

B2243 - Understanding gender differences in cardio-metabolic risk across the life-course - 22/05/2014

B number: 
B2243
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Linda O'Keeffe (University of Cork, Europe)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Laura Howe (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Abigail Fraser (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Understanding gender differences in cardio-metabolic risk across the life-course.
Proposal summary: 

AIMS

The aim of the project is to investigate whether known gender differences in cardio metabolic risk in mid-life are already present in childhood, whether they change across childhood and adolescence, and what biological and behavioral factors may underlie the gender differences.

Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 15 May, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 22 May, 2014
Keywords: 
Gender Behaviour
Primary keyword: 
Cardiovascular

B2242 - Risk and resilience in the context of interparental violence - 22/05/2014

B number: 
B2242
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Erica Bowen (University of Coventry, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Dr David Hughes (University of Coventry, UK)
Title of project: 
Risk and resilience in the context of interparental violence.
Proposal summary: 

AIMS:

The aims of this research are therefore to examine the impact of domestic violence as measured in the ALSPAC cohort on the behavioural and emotional development of children up to age 8 years, and examine factors that may increase the likelihood of resilience. In particular, both physical and non-physical forms of domestic violence, and the parental role in the impact of violence on child outcomes will be explicitly examined. The research questions to be addressed are:

1. There will be variation in the behavioural and emotional development of children exposed to domestic violence;

2. The variation in behavioural and emotional development of children exposed to domestic violence will vary depending on which parent used violence and which parent was victimised;

3. The variation in behavioural and emotional development of children exposed to domestic violence will vary depending on the type of domestic violence to which they were exposed (physical, emotional, combined);

4. Children who are identified as resilient in the context of physical domestic violence will be identified as resilient in the context of non-physical domestic violence;

5. The relationship between exposure to domestic violence and child development will be mediated or moderated by: maternal depression; parenting quality; child's cognitive ability and child's temperament.

Date proposal received: 
Friday, 16 May, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 22 May, 2014
Keywords: 
Behavioural Problems, Development
Primary keyword: 
Violence

B2239 - Investigating associations between obesity memory and hippocamapl volume using a Mendelian randomisation approach - 15/05/2014

B number: 
B2239
Principal applicant name: 
Miss Amy Taylor (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Marcus Munafo (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Tomas Paus (Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, ROW), Dr Lucy Cheke (University of Cambridge, UK), Mr Neil M Davies (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Investigating associations between obesity, memory and hippocamapl volume using a Mendelian randomisation approach.
Proposal summary: 

Aim:

To investigate associations between obesity, memory and hippocampal volume using a Mendelian randomisation approach

Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 14 May, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 15 May, 2014
Keywords: 
Obesity, Memory
Primary keyword: 
Mendelian Randomisation

B2238 - Modelling within-individual variation - 15/05/2014

B number: 
B2238
Principal applicant name: 
Prof Kate Tilling (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Jon Heron (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Corrie Macdonald (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Laura Howe (University of Bristol, UK), Prof Harvey Goldstein (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Graham Law (University of Leeds, UK), Prof Mark Gilthorpe (University of Leeds, UK)
Title of project: 
Modelling within-individual variation.
Proposal summary: 

Aim:

To develop statistical methods to model the variability of clinically-relevant measures within an individual, and relate this variability to both exposures and outcomes. We will develop methods for nominal and continuous exposures and outcomes, and both intensively and sparsely collected data. We will then apply these methods to simulated data,and to the ALSPAC example.

Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 8 May, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 15 May, 2014
Keywords: 
Blood Pressure
Primary keyword: 
Methodology

B2237 - Improved detection of allergic disease risk loci by combining information from genetically correlated traits - 15/05/2014

B number: 
B2237
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Lavinia Paternoster (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Manuel Ferreira (QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland, ROW)
Title of project: 
Improved detection of allergic disease risk loci by combining information from genetically correlated traits.
Proposal summary: 

Aims:

We propose to search for genetic risk factors shared between asthma (A), hayfever (H) and eczema (E) by performing a GWAS with cases defined by the presence of at least one of these three diseases (A+ or H+ or E+). Controls will be defined as individuals who are free of any allergic disease (A-H-E-). To compare the effect of individual variants on each disease per se, we will perform a secondary set of analyses, contrasting allele frequencies between the three mutually exclusive phenotypes A+H-E- (asthma only), A-H+E- (hayfever only) and A-H-E+ (eczema only).

Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 8 May, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 15 May, 2014
Keywords: 
GWAS, Allergy
Primary keyword: 
Asthma

B2235 - Telomere Dynamics and Cardiometabolic Disease in the First Two Decades of Life - 15/05/2014

B number: 
B2235
Principal applicant name: 
Karin B Michels (Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA)
Co-applicants: 
Prof George Davey Smith (University of Bristol, UK), Prof Immaculata De Vivo (Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA)
Title of project: 
Telomere Dynamics and Cardiometabolic Disease in the First Two Decades of Life.
Proposal summary: 

Aim 1:Telomere dynamics from birth to adulthood. We propose to characterize telomere length and its rate of erosion across various developmental periods between birth and 25 years of age.

Aim 2: Pre-natal health of mothers and early-life telomere dynamics. We propose to assess the longitudinal association between maternal body mass index, HDL/LDL ratio, cholesterol and triglyceride levels during the first trimester, and gestational diabetes as reflected by blood glucose levels in the mothers, and the rate of telomere erosion from birth to 25 (?) years of age in their children.

Aim 3: Early-life telomere dynamics and cardiovascular / metabolic outcomes in early adulthood. We propose to assess the longitudinal association between the rate of telomere erosion in children from birth to 15 years of age, and cardiovascular / metabolic health outcomes 5 - 10 years later including arterial stiffness, blood pressure, intima-media thickness, HDL/LDL ratio, triglyceride levels, flow-mediated dilation, adiposity, and fasting blood glucose.

Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 7 May, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 15 May, 2014
Keywords: 
Ageing, Cardiovascular , Metabolic
Primary keyword: 
Telomere

B2234 - Lifecourse epidemiology of womens reproductive health and its relation to chronic disease - 08/05/2014

B number: 
B2234
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Abigail Fraser (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Debbie A Lawlor (University of Bristol, UK), Prof Scott Nelson (University of Glasgow, UK)
Title of project: 
Lifecourse epidemiology of women's reproductive health and its relation to chronic disease.
Proposal summary: 

Aim 1: To study the life course epidemiology of female reproductive health and potential in early adulthood. I will use data on foetal exposures, growth, adiposity, diet, physical activity, smoking and stressful life events assessed repeatedly throughout childhood, adolescence and early adulthood to estimate the contribution of these and to identify critical and/or sensitive periods to female reproductive health and potential.

Common pregnancy complications (gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, preterm delivery, large- and small-for-gestational-age babies) affect some 30% of pregnant women. It is not known if these complications simply unmask an underlying propensity for cardiovascular disease (CVD), or contribute to it.

Aim 2:To investigate the role of pregnancy complications in shaping cardiovascular risk. If pregnancy complications per se increase CVD risk, causal mechanisms should be identified as these may provide treatment targets in women who experienced pregnancy complications to mitigate these effects. Even if the pregnancy complications only unmask women at increased risk of CVD, greater post-natal monitoring to identify if and when women cross established treatment thresholds is likely to be warranted.

Research into the female reproductive health and chronic disease has generally focussed on a single indicator of female reproductive health, whilst it is likely that information on multiple indicators such as menstrual cycle length and pregnancy complications; behaviours such as hormonal contraception use; and gynaecological disorders and their treatment can better characterise women's reproductive health and improve understanding of both its causes and consequences. Moreover, it is still unclear whether associations between indicators of reproductive health and chronic diseases are causal and if so via what causal pathways, or whether both female reproductive health and chronic disease are driven by common antecedents.

Aim 3: To study the relationship between female reproductive health and chronic disease. I will study the separate and joint associations of multiple indicators of female reproductive health with major disease outcomes (breast cancer, CVD, diabetes, osteoporotic fractures, depression, dementia, lung disease) and examine whether associations are independent of established disease specific risk factors.

Regardless of whether indicators of reproductive health are causally related to chronic disease outcomes, it is possible that readily available information on indicators of female reproductive health can improve risk stratification in women.

Aim 4:To determine whether information on female reproductive health can improve the performance of existing risk scores for the prediction of diabetes, CVD, osteoporotic fractures and dementia, or simplify them without loss of accuracy.

Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 1 May, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 8 May, 2014
Keywords: 
Cardiovascular , Hormones, Physical Activity, Metabolism
Primary keyword: 
Reproductive Health

B2233 - The temporal ordering of global dimensions of psychopathology - 01/05/2014

B number: 
B2233
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Eoin McElroy (University of Ulster, Northern Ireland)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Mark Shevlin (University of Ulster, Northern Ireland), Dr Jamie Murphy (University of Ulster, Northern Ireland)
Title of project: 
The temporal ordering of global dimensions of psychopathology.
Proposal summary: 

Aims:

To examine whether temporal orderings exists between the three higher order factors of psychopathology; internalizing, externalizing and psychosis.

Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 29 April, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 1 May, 2014
Keywords: 
Primary keyword: 
Psychosis

B2232 - Associations between antenatal domestic violence and cord blood DNA methylation - 01/05/2014

B number: 
B2232
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Matt Suderman (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Gene Feder (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Natalia Lokhmatkina (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Associations between antenatal domestic violence and cord blood DNA methylation.
Proposal summary: 

Aim:

To determine whether there are associations between antenatal domestic violence and DNA methylation.

Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 29 April, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 1 May, 2014
Keywords: 
Violence
Primary keyword: 
Epigenetics

B2231 - Do Psychological Health Issues in Early Childhood Precede Pubertal Maturation - 01/05/2014

B number: 
B2231
Principal applicant name: 
Prof Candace Currie (University of St Andrew's, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Silvia Paracchini (University of St Andrew's, UK), Dr Ross Whitehad (University of St Andrew's, UK)
Title of project: 
Do Psychological Health Issues in Early Childhood Precede Pubertal Maturation?
Proposal summary: 

Aims

Early puberty is associated with poor mental health outcomes in adolescence, from diminished mental wellbeing to psychopathology, especially amongst females. Explanations for this observed association predominantly centre on developmental mismatching of cognitive and emotional capacities and social engagement with older rather than same age peers. Research in this area has, however, largely neglected to examine the extent to which mental health issues precede premature pubertal development.

Life history theory considers early pubertal development to be an adaptive response to early environmental adversity, including factors such as familial discordance, hostile or neglectful parenting and low resource stability including family economic hardship. These social determinants of early puberty are also known to be related to behavioural problems and psychosocial difficulties (e.g., Boe et al., 2012). The inter-related nature of these outcomes and their timing require further exploration. Relevant longitudinal research in this context (Mensah et al., 2013) has recently revealed psychosocial and behavioural adjustment issues among four year-olds that go on to experience premature puberty. Utilisation of ALSPAC data will enable further generalisation of this research. We aim to follow up and extend research in this area by examining the extent to which psychological health, health-related behaviour, neurodevelopmental disorders and cognitive abilities in early childhood vary according to subsequent pubertal timing.

Pubertal timing is strongly controlled by genetic factors (heritability of menarcheal timing is estimated to be as high as 74%; He & Murabito, 2014). Both genome-wide association studies and candidate approaches have identified these factors which are among the most robust findings in the field of complex trait genetics. We would like to include genetic variants in our analysis to control for genetic influences and also test whether genes associated with pubertal timing in boys and girls could be directly implicated in related psychological and behavioural phenotypes. Interestingly one of the genes identified, CYP19A1, has also been implicated in dyslexia, a common neurodevelopmental phenotype. For this reason, we would like to include reading-related measures in our dataset. Also pertinent to this context are findings of sex differences in neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., Willcutt & Pennington, 2000). We aim to examine potential environmental and genetic factors which may contribute to gender differences in prevalence rates.

This project builds on a collaboration between research groups in the School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, which is focusing on a wider project on the determinants and consequences of early pubertal timing. Professor Candace Currie currently acts as International Coordinator of the 43-country Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study and directs the Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit (CAHRU) in St Andrews. Professor Currie has a strong track record in fields of puberty and adolescent health and has been an active researcher in these areas for over 20 years. Dr Silvia Paracchini is a Royal Society University Research Fellow and an active researcher in the field of neurodevelopmental genetics. She has extensive experience in working with cognitive measures from the ALSPAC dataset. Dr Ross Whitehead is a Research Fellow with the Scottish HBSC team and has backgrounds in cognitive neuroscience and the evolution of human behaviour. As part of our collaborative project, we will extend our analysis to other relevant existing cohorts such as the 'Generation Scotland' study, which allows retrospective investigation into some of the above research questions

Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 29 April, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 1 May, 2014
Keywords: 
Behavioural Problems, Cognition
Primary keyword: 
Puberty

B2230 - DNA methylation patterns in genes controlling vitamin D metabolism a lifespan approach - 01/05/2014

B number: 
B2230
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Andrea Darling (University of Surrey, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Susan Lanham-New (University of Surrey, UK), Dr Kathryn Hart (University of Surrey, UK), Dr Kourosh Ahmadi (University of Surrey, UK)
Title of project: 
DNA methylation patterns in genes controlling vitamin D metabolism ? a lifespan approach.
Proposal summary: 

Aims:

1 Assess the changes that occur in DNA methylation status over the life span for vitamin D relevant genes. Including, how does early life methylation status vary from that of later life?

2.What are the implications of these changes for vitamin D status and health outcomes over the lifespan?

3.Do any of these methylation changes correlate with traditional risk factors for vitamin D deficiency (e.g. ethnicity, age, obesity) and if so how?

4.How do people who respond well to vitamin D supplements differ in methylation status (for vitamin D related genes) from those who do not respond well?

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 28 April, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 1 May, 2014
Keywords: 
Vitamin D
Primary keyword: 
Epigenetics

B2229 - Lifecourse determinants of diet in a contemporary population of young adults - 01/05/2014

B number: 
B2229
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Kate Northstone (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Laura Johnson (University of Bristol, UK), Mrs Louise-Rena Jones (University of Bristol, UK), Prof Kate Tilling (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Lifecourse determinants of diet in a contemporary population of young adults.
Proposal summary: 

We plan to collect dietary data as part of the clinic being planned in the ALSPAC participants.They will be asked to complete three 24-hour dietary recalls, using a newly developed online system (exact tool to be determined - we are currently negotiating with two research groups over their tools: Jane Cade's MyFood24 (Leeds University) and Emma Foster's INTAKE24 (University of Newcastle)) at around the age of 24. YPs will be requested to complete a recall prior to coming to a clinic planned to start in June 2015. There will then be opportunity for the YP during the clinic visit to ask any questions about their dietary recall. The tool we use will automatically provide us with all the data necessary (food groups and nutrient intakes as derived using standard food tables). The tool will be both smart phone and tablet compatible. This means at least one recall could be collected during the clinic visit if time is available between sessions (we anticipate it will take 10-15 minutes to complete one recall) if we were to purchase a number of tablets. Reminders will then be sent out via email/text after the clinic visit to complete futher 24-hour recalls.

We also propose the collection of new questionnaire data in the YPs, to include questions such as current living arrangements (who, what, where), what the YP is currently doing (work, study etc), who normally prepares food etc and other eating behaviours. Such questions will be included in either the 2014 or 2015 Q as appropriate (but ideally 2014 from a temporal point of view, though we acknowledge funding may not be in place in time).

In addition to examining food groups and nutrient intakes, we will use three methods: cluster analysis, principal components analysis and reduced rank regression to obtain dietary patterns: All these methods reduce the complex nature of many inter-correlated dietary variables into a smaller number of variables which best describe the overall patterns of diet in the population but result in different outcome variables providing slightly different ways of assessing overall diet. These methods have been used extensively by the applicants to determine dietary patterns throughout childhood and into adolescence and will be used to see whether dietary patterns track into adulthood.

The ALSPAC resource provides the perfect opportunity to develop causal models that will explore which of the following are most important in determining 'healthy' dietary intake in early adulthood:

* Individual factors such as previous diet (including breastfeeding and weaning and dietary intake throughout childhood and in early adolescence), eating behaviours (such as skipping breakfast) physical activity, body composition, life events and other health behaviours;

* Familial factors such as parental diet, eating attitudes and behaviours, lifestyle and health factors

* Social and environmental factors such as housing, education of both the individual and their parents.

Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 29 April, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 1 May, 2014
Keywords: 
Primary keyword: 
Diet

B2128 - The impact of iodine perchlorate and thiocyanate status on childhood cognitive and thyroid function - 01/05/2014

B number: 
B2128
Principal applicant name: 
Prof Peter Taylor (University of Cardiff, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Colin Dayan (University of Cardiff, UK), Prof John Lazarus (University of Cardiff, UK), Dr Onyebuchi Okosieome (University of Cardiff, UK), Dr Lewis Braverman (Boston University, USA), Ass. Prof Elizabeth Pearce (Boston University, USA)
Title of project: 
The impact of iodine, perchlorate and thiocyanate status on childhood cognitive and thyroid function.
Proposal summary: 

Aims

We therefore propose to i) study the impact of iodine, perchlorate and thiocyanate (another iodine-thyroid disruptor) levels on adolescent thyroid function and IQ using the 882 ALSPAC children who have urine samples available from age 15 who also have had thyroid function measured and their IQ assessed. ii) We also propose to measure perchlorate and thiocyanate in the ALSPAC mums from urine taken during the first trimester, to see if they impact on offspring neuro-cognitive development at age 8 and childhood thyroid function age 7. We are proposing to measure these in the 2,300 women who have iodine measured already (or imminently) by the Rayman group. This has already been discussed with Margaret Rayman and Sarah Bath and we will proceed with a formal collaboration if this study is approved.

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 16 December, 2013
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 1 May, 2014
Keywords: 
Cognitive Function, Thyroid, Iodine
Primary keyword: 
Iodine

B2228 - Exploration of possible link between blood selenium and risk of pre-eclampsia pregnancy-induced hypertension - 24/04/2014

B number: 
B2228
Principal applicant name: 
Prof Jean Golding (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Margaret Rayman (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Exploration of possible link between blood selenium and risk of pre-eclampsia & pregnancy-induced hypertension
Proposal summary: 

Aims:

To analyse the mothers' total blood selenium in regard to the subsequent development of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, particularly of pre-eclampsia.

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 21 April, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 24 April, 2014
Keywords: 
Diet, Pre-eclampsia, Pregnancy
Primary keyword: 
Diet

B2135 - Genetic association study of endophenotypes related to autism spectrum conditions - 17/04/2014

B number: 
B2135
Principal applicant name: 
Prof Simon Baron-Cohen (University of Cambridge, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Bhismadev Chakrabarti (University of Reading, UK), Mr Varun Warrier (University of Cambridge, UK)
Title of project: 
Genetic association study of endophenotypes related to autism spectrum conditions
Proposal summary: 

Aim:

The role of common variants in ASC and related endophenotypes can be investigated using genetic association studies. While candidate gene association studies have identified a few variants that have been replicated, the majority of GWAS results have not been replicated (Berg and Geschwind 2012). Possible reasons for the failure of GWAS studies could be: 1) the high clinical and genetic heterogeneity underlying ASC; 2) the need for much larger sample sizes than previously thought; 3) The effect sizes of a single common variant is much smaller than previously thought, suggesting multiple epistasis. One solution to these problems is to test for genetic associations for underlying endophenotypes. Many of the underlying endophenotypes such as attention to detail, systemizing ability and empathy are quantitative traits present in the general population. Individuals with ASC are usually present at one end of the curve of these traits. Understanding which genetic variants, and by extension, which genetic and biological networks contribute to these traits will help us understand, in part, the variants that contribute to ASC. Due to the complex nature of these endophenotypes, a model-free GWAS would be the best approach to understand these traits. These studies must be sufficiently powered and must include a replication sample in order to be reliable. We have a number of different online psychological tests of empathy, attention to detail, systemizing, mathematical ability, and synaesthesia that are sensitive to individual differences in the general population and that are related to the autism phenotype. Many of them have a genetic component and are polygenic. We are interested in identifying the genes that show association with these traits.

Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 2 January, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 17 April, 2014
Keywords: 
Primary keyword: 
Autism

B2227 - The evolution of behavioural development in social animals - 17/04/2014

B number: 
B2227
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Tim Fawcett (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Title of project: 
The evolution of behavioural development in social animals.
Proposal summary: 

AIMS

I will use evolutionary theory, underpinned by mathematical and computational modelling, to understand how natural selection has influenced patterns of development and how these interact with early life conditions to shape behaviour. The underlying assumption of the proposed project is that children gradually develop social competence through interactions with their peers. Using the ALSPAC data I will test some general predictions derived from evolutionary models of social behaviour, in which individuals are uncertain of their own qualities but can learn about this through their social experiences (see e.g. Fawcett & Bleay 2009, Behav. Ecol. 20, 68-78; Fawcett & Johnstone 2010, Proc. R. Soc. B 277, 1427-1434). The project has two main components:

(1) To refine the models and generate more specific predictions, I will incorporate data on patterns of physical development (growth in body size, strength, pubertal development etc.), changing social situations (age-structuring of interactions, number and age of siblings, moving to a new school, etc.) and early-life stress (low SES, stressful events, etc.) in an attempt to explain age-dependent patterns of play-fighting, aggressive behaviour and reproductive strategies. To assess causal relationships, I will use Mendelian randomisation (MR) techniques based on SNPs robustly associated with patterns of development (body size and reproductive maturity).

(2) I will then conduct a targeted recall study to measure the perception of social emotions (facial image recognition task; see e.g. Penton-Voak et al. 2013, Psych. Sci. 24, 688-697) and responsiveness to social experiences (winner vs. losing a competitive task; see e.g. Pound et al. 2009, Proc. R. Soc. B 276, 153-159; van der Meij et al. 2012, Proc. R. Soc. B 279, 202-208), using a subsample of ALSPAC participants who have followed diverging trajectories of physical development and experienced different social environments early in life. This will shed light on the psychological mechanisms associated with different developmental patterns of social behaviour.

Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 15 April, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 17 April, 2014
Keywords: 
Behaviour Change, Mendelian Randomization, Mendelian Randomisation
Primary keyword: 
Social Science

B2221 - Maternal function folate status and risk of ASDs in the ALSPAC birth cohort - 10/04/2014

B number: 
B2221
Principal applicant name: 
Brian K Lee (Drexel University, USA)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Dheeraj Rai (University of Bristol, UK), Prof Jean Golding (University of Bristol, UK), Elizabeth A De Vilbiss (Drexel University, USA)
Title of project: 
Maternal function folate status and risk of ASDs in the ALSPAC birth cohort
Proposal summary: 

Aims

In our proposed work, we aim to investigate relationships between ASD and related traits, and key determinants of functional folate-status in a large, well-characterized birth cohort with prospectively collected data. Determinants of folate-status to be investigated include self-report of maternal folate supplementation at 16 and 32 weeks gestation, dietary folate intake at 32 weeks gestation, child folate intake reported at 1 year of age, as well as maternal and child genetic variants involved in one-carbon metabolism and epigenetic regulation. These determinants are to be investigated both individually, and jointly to assess potential interactions.

Date proposal received: 
Saturday, 5 April, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 10 April, 2014
Keywords: 
Genetics, Mendelian Randomisation
Primary keyword: 
Autism

B2220 - Does early frequency and form of stools predict later bowel and bladder dysfunction and their consequences - 10/04/2014

B number: 
B2220
Principal applicant name: 
David Michael Tappin (University of Glasgow, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Andrew MacLaren (Not used 0, Not used 0), Kathleen Boyd (Not used 0, Not used 0), Andrea Sheriff (Not used 0, Not used 0)
Title of project: 
Does early frequency and form of stools predict later bowel and bladder dysfunction and their consequences?
Proposal summary: 

To establish if early questionnaire data on frequency and form of stooling predicts future bowel and bladder dysfunction in children. This data will be ised to model the costs and benefits of treating infants and children for long periods with stool softeners to reduce the incidence of constipation, soiling and daytime wetting.

Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 2 April, 2014
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 10 April, 2014
Keywords: 
Incontinence
Primary keyword: 
Gastrointestinal

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