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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B420 - Norweigian biobank for human primary teeth - 30/10/2006

B number: 
B420
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Helene Tvinnereim (University of Bergen, Europe)
Co-applicants: 
Title of project: 
Norweigian biobank for human primary teeth
Proposal summary: 

30/10/2006

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 30 October, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 30 October, 2006
Keywords: 
Primary keyword: 

B419 - Conduct disorder at 17 - 30/10/2006

B number: 
B419
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Daniel Pilowsky (Columbia University, New York, USA)
Co-applicants: 
Title of project: 
Conduct disorder at 17
Proposal summary: 

No outline received

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 30 October, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 30 October, 2006
Keywords: 
Primary keyword: 

B418 - Development of ear drum retractions - 30/10/2006

B number: 
B418
Principal applicant name: 
Mr Richard Sim (BMI Bath Clinic, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Title of project: 
Development of ear drum retractions
Proposal summary: 

No outline received

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 30 October, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 30 October, 2006
Keywords: 
Primary keyword: 

B417 - Disordered eating in adolesence A longitudinal study of risk factors - 30/10/2006

B number: 
B417
Principal applicant name: 
Nadia Micali (King's College London, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Janet Treasure (King's College London, UK), E Simonoff (Not used 0, Not used 0), D Collier (Not used 0, Not used 0), Dr Pauline Emmett (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Disordered eating in adolesence: A longitudinal study of risk factors
Proposal summary: 

Disordered eating is a common problem in pre-adolescents and adolescents. About 30% to 60% of young girls show disordered eating at some point between the ages of 12 and 18

Abnormal eating patterns such as under-eating and binge eating are associated with a high disease burden (15th among the top 20 causes of disability)

Disordered eating encompasses extreme forms of eating such as the eating disorders (ED), anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), eating-disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) including binge eating disorder (BED); and less extreme problematic eating, such as over-eating and under-eating as well as unhealthy weight-control behaviours: self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diet pills, excessive exercise or fasting for weight loss. It affects the physical and mental health of young people, impacts upon school performance and interpersonal relations, and also increases the risk for eating disorders in later life.Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate amongst psychiatric disorders, and the mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate of all causes of death for females 15 - 24 years old. Moreover, disordered eating might induce long-standing changes in the neurobiological pathways affecting eating behaviours.

The purpose of this study is to identify the risk factors related to the development of disordered eating and to determine risk factors for the persistence of disordered eating during adolescence. This will aid the development of early intervention and preventative strategies for disturbed eating and in so doing have an impact on public health

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 30 October, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 30 October, 2006
Keywords: 
Primary keyword: 

B416 - TIM data request - 30/10/2006

B number: 
B416
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Joseph Boyle (Imperial College London, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Dr Jennifer Law (Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, UK), Prof Susan Roulstone (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
TIM data request
Proposal summary: 

No profile received

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 30 October, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 30 October, 2006
Keywords: 
Speech & Language
Primary keyword: 

B414 - European Cohort Network EUCCONET - 16/10/2006

B number: 
B414
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Henri Leridon (Institut National d'Etudes D?mographiques, Europe)
Co-applicants: 
Title of project: 
European Cohort Network (EUCCONET)
Proposal summary: 

No outline received

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 16 October, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 16 October, 2006
Keywords: 
Primary keyword: 

B413 - Thyroid function in maternal sera and development and cognitive function - 16/10/2006

B number: 
B413
Principal applicant name: 
James Sargent (Geisel School of Medicine, USA)
Co-applicants: 
Title of project: 
Thyroid function in maternal sera and development and cognitive function
Proposal summary: 
Date proposal received: 
Monday, 16 October, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 16 October, 2006
Keywords: 
Cognitive Function, Endocrine, Growth, Obesity, Weight
Primary keyword: 

B412 - The lifecourse determinants of moles in a contemporary population of children - 16/10/2006

B number: 
B412
Principal applicant name: 
Miss Rebecca Beynon (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Title of project: 
The lifecourse determinants of moles in a contemporary population of children
Proposal summary: 

No profile received

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 16 October, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 16 October, 2006
Keywords: 
Skin
Primary keyword: 

B407 - Maternal and paternal alcohol use in pregnancy - 02/10/2006

B number: 
B407
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Alati Alati (University of Queensland, Australia, ROW)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Debbie A Lawlor (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Maternal and paternal alcohol use in pregnancy
Proposal summary: 

Evidence increasingly suggests that mental health problems are associated with insults during critical times of brain development, and also by exposures over an individual's life course. These include in-utero exposures, which may lead to subtle neurobehavioral difficulties, and contextual exposures such as neighbourhood quality and quality of child-rearing environment. Much of the work in this area to date has focused on early life determinants of schizophrenia, and to a lesser extent depression and suicide. Further, there is a body of evidence relating birthweight to cognitive function in childhood, though a recent sibling-based analysis suggested that this association was driven by fixed familial factors such as background socioeconomic position and behaviours/exposures that are similar for all siblings within a family. (1)

However, there is relatively little work on the role of early alcohol exposure on the occurrence of a range of cognitive, behavioural and emotional difficulties. Exposure to alcohol consumption in pregnancy is an example of the effects of an exposure during a sensitive period. The teratogenic effects of alcohol causes a variety of adverse developmental outcomes including Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Foetal Alcohol Effects. (2) Whereas consistent excessive drinking in pregnancy is definitely associated with more severe symptoms, the evidence is unclear as to the impact of more moderate drinking exposure on milder forms of developmental outcomes. However concerns remains over the fact that even moderate consumption of alcohol in pregnancy may increase the risk of mild cognitive impairment, ADHD and learning and behavioural difficulties. (2) Finally there is emerging evidence pointing to an association between alcohol and tobacco use in pregnancy and the development of addictive behaviours, such as addiction to alcohol. (3-6)

The mechanisms underlying these associations are unknown. It is assumed that the effects are due to specific intrauterine exposure, but genetic factors and shared familial factors (including socioeconomic position, shared/learnt familiar behaviours) may well explain any link between moderate alcohol consumption in pregnancy and later effects on offspring cognitive function and behaviour. One way to further explore this would be to compare associations of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy with offspring outcomes to the same associations with paternal alcohol consumption. To date no previous study has done this.

There are only a handful of studies with the capacity to test the early development of alcohol problems in children. Further evidence is needed to assess whether in-utero exposure to moderate alcohol consumption truly contributes to later developmental problems. If this is so it is also important to understand the mechanisms underlying these associations.

The aim of this proposal is to use ALSPAC data in order to determine whether intra-uterine exposure to alcohol consumption (assessed by maternal self-report of alcohol consumption during pregnancy) is related to poorer cognitive function, academic difficulties, behavioural problems (eg Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders) during the childhood years and addictive behaviours later in adolescence. The association of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy with these offspring outcomes will be compared to similar associations with paternal alcohol consumption (based on self-report by the partner of the mother with restriction to those who define themselves as the biological father). This comparison will facilitate our ability to determine whether there is a true intrauterine effect, since if there is one would anticipate associations only with maternal alcohol consumption. Similar association with paternal intake would suggest that genetic factors and/or shared family environmental factors explain the association rather than specific intrauterine effects.

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 2 October, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 2 October, 2006
Keywords: 
Alcohol, Pregnancy
Primary keyword: 

B406 - Equity of access to health care for visual problems in childhood An analysis of ALSAC data from children 7 years of age - 02/10/2006

B number: 
B406
Principal applicant name: 
Musakir Majeed (Not used 0, Not used 0)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Yaov Ben-Schlomo (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Equity of access to health care for visual problems in childhood: An analysis of ALSAC data from children 7 years of age
Proposal summary: 

Experimental studieshave suggested in animals1,2 and children3 that treatment at an early stage for childhood visual problems leads to improved visual outcomes . There is debate about the consequences for a child of treating vs. not treating their visual problem, but data from ALSPAC suggests some common visual problems are associated with under achievement at school8 . There is also disagreement about the use of population vs. targeted visual screening services, offered at different stages of childhood and their effectiveness in reducing visual problems in children at population levels4

Although, in theory, eye services should be accessible to everyone, it is not known "if the people who use it are the people who need it". Inequity access to health care is defined as a mismatch between provision of clinical services and clinical need. 5 A study6 by the ALSPAC group has highlighted a clear gradient in maternal social class and prevalence of childhood hypermetropia as well as amblyopia at age 7. We therefore have robust epidemiological evidence that inequalities in visual health do indeed exist. The aim of this proposal is to now relate this pattern of need to actual receipt of clinical eye services and identify whether the latter pattern is consistent with need, thereby identifying if equitable access to care does not does not exist within this population and possibly the UK in general. Such an approach has been used for other chronic diseases.7 In addition we will adjust for the potential confounding effects of other covariates such as maternal eye problems, other siblings in the family

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 2 October, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 2 October, 2006
Keywords: 
Autism, Motor Co-ordination, Neurology, Vision
Primary keyword: 

B405 - Acknowledging Model Uncertainty in Social Science - 28/09/2006

B number: 
B405
Principal applicant name: 
Prof Kelvyn Jones (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
D Lunn (Not used 0, Not used 0), Prof John Rasbash (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Acknowledging Model Uncertainty in Social Science
Proposal summary: 

No outline received

Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 28 September, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 28 September, 2006
Keywords: 
Social Science, Stress, Social Conditions
Primary keyword: 

B404 - A study of the associations between blood pressure and anxiety in pregnant mothers - 25/09/2006

B number: 
B404
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Simon Davies (Not used 0, Not used 0)
Co-applicants: 
Alice Lau (Not used 0, Not used 0), Dr Jonathan Evans (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Jon Heron (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
A study of the associations between blood pressure and anxiety in pregnant mothers
Proposal summary: 

No outline received

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 25 September, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 25 September, 2006
Keywords: 
Cardiovascular , Depression, Mental Health, Mothers, Pregnancy
Primary keyword: 

B403 - Being 16 Camera Project - 15/09/2006

B number: 
B403
Principal applicant name: 
Dr Jane Coad (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Alan Emond (University of Bristol, UK)
Title of project: 
Being 16 Camera Project
Proposal summary: 

No outline received

Date proposal received: 
Friday, 15 September, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Friday, 15 September, 2006
Keywords: 
Primary keyword: 

B401 - Longitudinal modelling of energy imbalance based on changes in body composition in ALSPAC participants 9-13 years - 15/09/2006

B number: 
B401
Principal applicant name: 
Prof John McColl (University of Glasgow, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof John Reilly-DO-NOT-USE (University of Glasgow, UK), Dr Jonathan Wells (University College London, UK)
Title of project: 
Longitudinal modelling of energy imbalance based on changes in body composition in ALSPAC participants 9-13 years
Proposal summary: 

Obesity is a chronic disorder of energy balance: the amount of energy being spent must remain less than the amount of energy consumed for a long period of time for obesity to develop. The traditional paradigm for the development of obesity is that a process of 'creeping weight gain' occurs1, and that the rate or degree of positive energy balance is very small - in both adults and children - when considered over long periods (equivalent to perhaps as little as 50 kcal/day)1,2. This paradigm translates directly to public health messages aimed at persuading individuals to make small lifestyle changes in order to prevent obesity ("eat a little less, do a little more")1. The paradigm has been challenged by the finding that, in at least one population at high risk of obesity (Latino children, adolescents, and young adults in Houston Texas3), rates of positive energy balance are typically very much higher. In that study, the median positive energy balance was equivalent to greater than 200kcal/day for a year3.

Date proposal received: 
Friday, 15 September, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Friday, 15 September, 2006
Keywords: 
Diet, Eating disorders
Primary keyword: 

B400 - Gene and environmental influences on childhood asthma STELAR Study Team for Early Life Asthma Research Collaboration - 14/09/2006

B number: 
B400
Principal applicant name: 
Prof Angela Simpson (Not used 0, Not used 0)
Co-applicants: 
Title of project: 
Gene and environmental influences on childhood asthma: STELAR (Study Team for Early Life Asthma Research Collaboration
Proposal summary: 

No outline received

Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 14 September, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Thursday, 14 September, 2006
Keywords: 
Allergies, Genetics, Respiratory, Atopy
Primary keyword: 

B396 - DANVA Analysis - 11/09/2006

B number: 
B396
Principal applicant name: 
Prof Stephen Nowicki (Emory University, USA)
Co-applicants: 
Title of project: 
DANVA Analysis.
Proposal summary: 

(No outline received).

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 11 September, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 11 September, 2006
Keywords: 
ADHD, Antisocial Behaviour, Behavioural Problems, DANVA
Primary keyword: 

B395 - Relationship between Thyroid Status and Skeletal Development - 11/09/2006

B number: 
B395
Principal applicant name: 
Prof George Davey Smith (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Debbie A Lawlor (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Jon Tobias (University of Bristol, UK), Prof George Davey Smith (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Susan Ring (University of Bristol, UK), Prof Graham Williams (Imperial College London, UK)
Title of project: 
Relationship between Thyroid Status and Skeletal Development.
Proposal summary: 

(No outline received).

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 11 September, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 11 September, 2006
Keywords: 
Genetics, Thyroid, Bone, Bones
Primary keyword: 

B394 - MTHFR C677T Genotype and Obesity - 11/09/2006

B number: 
B394
Principal applicant name: 
Prof George Davey Smith (University of Bristol, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Shah Ebrahim (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK), Prof Debbie A Lawlor (University of Bristol, UK), Dr Sam Leary (University of Bristol, UK), Dr S J Lewis (University of Bristol, UK), Prof Borge Nordestgaard (University of Copenhagen, Europe), Prof Anne Tybj?rg-Hansen (University of Copenhagen, Europe), Dr Jeppe Zacho (University of Copenhagen, Europe)
Title of project: 
MTHFR C677T Genotype and Obesity.
Proposal summary: 

TheMTHFRTT genotype is associated with an increased frequency of obesity relative to the CC genotype, due to a reduction in availability of folate for methylation observed with this genotype.

We plan to examine the association between the MTHFR genotype in 4 distinct populations within 3 Cohort studies; The British Women's Heart and Health Study, Avon longitudinal study of Parents and Children (2 populations: mothers and children) and Copenhagen City Heart Study.

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 11 September, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 11 September, 2006
Keywords: 
Diet, Genetics, Obesity, Eating disorders
Primary keyword: 

B391 - Social Deprivation and Respiratory Health - A Lifecourse Perspective - 04/09/2006

B number: 
B391
Principal applicant name: 
Julie Williams (Not used 0, Not used 0)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Carol Propper (Imperial College London, UK)
Title of project: 
Social Deprivation and Respiratory Health - A Lifecourse Perspective.
Proposal summary: 

This project will address the question of health inequalities, by addressing the relationships between measures of socio-economic deprivation and respiratory health, particularly wheezing illnesses, asthma and lung function.The first part of the study will focus on the detailed information on respiratory health and socio-economic factors in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) to determine the association of socio-economic deprivation and respiratory outcomes during childhood.We will further investigate these associations by attempting to identify explanatory variables, including lifestyle (smoking, diet) and environmental exposures.Observed associations will then be examined using a lifecourse epidemiological approach to investigate whether associations that we observe in a contemporary population of children (ALSPAC) are reproducible across previous generations in the United Kingdom and whether deprivation in childhood is associated with adult respiratory outcomes, independently of adult socio-economic status.In turn, this will allow us to explore the possible effects of social mobility on adult respiratory health. The project brings together expertise on the analysis of inequalities in health from an economics perspective, with a focus on measures of access to resources, and the exploitation of dynamics in data and the use of GIS tools to map local features to individuals (in the Department of Economics), childhood respiratory epidemiology, including assessment of asthma and lung function in a longitudinal birth cohort sample (Department of Community-based Medicine) and the multidisciplinary specialty of lifecourse epidemiology, including access to archived information on other existing cohorts (Department of Social Medicine).Therefore, this is a unique opportunity to build a global, comprehensive picture of the factors associated with socio-economic deprivation in the U.K. and their potential effects on an important aspect of public health.

Obstructive respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are among the commonest chronic health problems of children and adults in the United Kingdom. However, a review of the evidence on inequalities in Britain did not mentionasthma as a health issue related to poverty. Within countries there have been studies that have examined the relationship between socio-economic status and prevalence of asthma. While there does appear to be a consistent relationship between allergy prevalence and high socio-economic status, there is conflicting evidence with regard to asthma with studies showing increased or decreased prevalence in higher socio-economic groups and others showing no socio-economic gradient. However, one of the problems of interpreting these studies is that many of them are based on cross-sectional surveys and results may be inconsistent across time. For example, we have previously demonstrated differences in social factors associated with wheeze between infants and adults. This may relate to differentpathological aetiologies of wheezing in these two populations.Wheezing in infancy is associated with respiratory tract infection on a background of abnormal airway development, as evidenced by reduced lung function shortlyafter birth. Social factors, including exposure to tobacco smoke, have been demonstrated to be strongly associated with reduced airway function in infancy and a tendency to wheeze in the first few years after birth and factors associated with deprivation, such as crowded living conditions, larger family size and a reduced tendency to breast feeding will tend to increase the risk of respiratory infections. Although wheezing tends to resolve in the majority of these children by the age of 3 years, there is increasing interest in the long-term implications of impaired lung function in infancy and the possible relationship with COPD in adult life. Although COPD is generally regarded as a smoking-related illness, only a minority of active smokers develop the condition and, in observational studies that have examined early life factors, these have been shown to have a greater effect on COPD mortality than active smoking in later life. Therefore, in order to fully understand the nature of associations between markers of socio-economic deprivation and respiratory health and diseases, it is necessary to design studies that have the capacity to examine short and long term outcomes, preferably in the context of a longitudinal cohort design. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children is a birth cohort study that has followed a population of children, recruited during their mothers' pregnancies with expected dates of delivery between April 1991 and December 1992. The study has included repeat questionnaires about respiratory symptoms at approximately annual intervals since birth and has objective measurements of lung function at 8 1/2 years of age. During the course of the proposed project, a further measurement of lung function will be available at 15 1/2 years (MRC funded). The ALSPAC study has also collected detailed information on lifestyle and environment (housing type, type of heating/cooking used, reported damp or mould in the home, household cleaning product use, parental smoking, and detailed dietary diaries from the mother and child). This presents the opportunity to carry out a uniquely detailed study of socio-economic influences on respiratory symptoms and function from birth to adolescence. To address the longer term respiratory health questions, we will use the approach of lifecourse epidemiology to investigate exposures at different stages of development that may contribute to the risk of diseases in adults, either by accumulation of exposure over time or by exposures acting at critical periods of development, or by interactions of these. The Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol has extensive expertise in lifecourse epidemiological approaches using a combination of contemporary and historical cohort studies. We aim to study the Boyd-Orr cohort which was based on the Carnegie survey of diet and health (1937-9) of 4973 children and has information on socio-economic factors, diet and growth in childhood and respiratory follow up including MRC respiratory questionnaire responses and spirometry. We would also seek to collaborate with the 1958 and 1970 British birth cohort studies, which have also collected information on respiratory outcomes.

Date proposal received: 
Monday, 4 September, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 4 September, 2006
Keywords: 
Respiratory, Social Science, Stress, Social Conditions, Allergy, Atopy
Primary keyword: 

B308 - Children in Poverty aspirations expectations and attitudes to education - 01/09/2006

B number: 
B308
Principal applicant name: 
Alissa Goodman (The Institute for Fiscal Studies, UK)
Co-applicants: 
Title of project: 
Children in Poverty: aspirations, expectations and attitudes to education.
Proposal summary: 

Children from deprived homes emerge from our schools with substantially lower levels of educational attainment. These educational deficits emerge early in children's lives, even before entry into school and widen throughout childhood.

But little is known about how family background affects education attainment. This project will consider the influences on children's skill development, in its broadest sense, focussing particularly on soft skills, and on attitudes to education amongst children from low-income backgrounds

Date proposal received: 
Friday, 1 September, 2006
Date proposal approved: 
Friday, 1 September, 2006
Keywords: 
Education
Primary keyword: 

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