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The Generation R Study: Design and cohort profile

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Abstract

The Generation R Study is a population-based prospective cohort study from fetal life until young adulthood. The study is designed to identify early environmental and genetic causes of normal and abnormal growth, development and health from fetal life until young adulthood. The study focuses on four primary areas of research: (1) growth and physical development; (2) behavioral and cognitive development; (3) diseases in childhood; and (4) health and healthcare for pregnant women and children. In total, 9778 mothers with a delivery date from April 2002 until January 2006 were enrolled in the study. Of all eligible children at birth, 61% participate in the study. Data collection in the prenatal phase included physical examinations, questionnaires, fetal ultrasound examinations and biological samples. In addition, more detailed assessments are conducted in a subgroup of 1232 pregnant women and their children. The children form a prenatally recruited birth-cohort that will be followed until young adulthood. Eventually, results forthcoming from the Generation R Study have to contribute to the development of strategies for optimizing health and healthcare for pregnant women and children.

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Acknowledgements

The Generation R Study is conducted by the Erasmus Medical Center in close collaboration with the School of Law and Faculty of Social Sciences of the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Municipal Health Service Rotterdam area, Rotterdam, the Rotterdam Homecare Foundation, Rotterdam and the Stichting Trombosedienst & Artsenlaboratorium Rijnmond (STAR), Rotterdam. We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of general practitioners, hospitals, midwives and pharmacies in Rotterdam. The first phase of the Generation R Study is made possible by financial support from the Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Erasmus University Rotterdam and the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw). Vincent Jaddoe, received an additional grant from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw, Grant No. 2100.0074).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Vincent W. V. Jaddoe

  2. Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Vincent W. V. Jaddoe, Henning Tiemeier, Jacqueline C. M. Witteman & Albert Hofman

  3. Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Johan P. Mackenbach

  4. Department of Paediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Henriëtte A. Moll

  5. Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Erasmus Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Eric A. P. Steegers

  6. Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Henning Tiemeier & Frank C. Verhulst

Authors
  1. Vincent W. V. Jaddoe
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  2. Johan P. Mackenbach
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  3. Henriëtte A. Moll
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  4. Eric A. P. Steegers
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  5. Henning Tiemeier
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  6. Frank C. Verhulst
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  7. Jacqueline C. M. Witteman
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  8. Albert Hofman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vincent W. V. Jaddoe.

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Jaddoe, V.W.V., Mackenbach, J.P., Moll, H.A. et al. The Generation R Study: Design and cohort profile. Eur J Epidemiol 21, 475–484 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-006-9022-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-006-9022-0

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