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ORIGINS

ORIGINS is Australia's largest longitudinal cohort study of its kind. Following 10,000 WA children from their time in the womb into early childhood, ORIGINS researchers are working to better understand when and why non-communicable diseases develop, and provide solutions for early intervention to ensure every child and family flourishes throughout their lifetime.

Local Research. Global Impact.

ORIGINS is the largest study of its kind in Australia. Following 10,000 WA children from their time in the womb into early childhood, ORIGINS researchers are working to better understand how the early environment impacts the development of non-communicable diseases.

The unique long-term study is one of the most comprehensive studies of pregnant women and their families in Australia, recruiting families who received pregnancy care at , as well as families from the Joondalup and Wanneroo communities.

ORIGINS researchers are collecting detailed information from our participating families via questionnaires, in-person checks and collection of biological samples, to determine how the early environment influences the risk of a broad range of diseases, including asthma, allergies, mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders.

The total ORIGINS population will consist of more than 20,000 individuals within family units - including mothers, partners, children and siblings.

ORIGINS acknowledges core funding provided by the Telethon Perth Children’s Hospital Research Fund, Joondalup Health Campus, the Paul Ramsay Foundation, the Commonwealth Government of Australia through the Channel 7 Telethon Trust, and the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation.

Team leader

Dr Jackie Davis
Dr Jackie Davis

BSc (Hons), PGradDipHlthProm, PhD

Co-Director, ORIGINS

Professor Desiree Silva
Professor Desiree Silva

MBBS, FRACP, MPH, PhD

Co-Director, ORIGINS

Team members (12)

Lisa Gibson
Lisa Gibson

BA (Hons), MPsych, PhD

Zenobia Talati
Zenobia Talati

BSc(Hons), MPsych/PhD

Senior Research Fellow

Nina D'Vaz

Nina D'Vaz

Biobank Manager, The ORIGINS Project

Avril Bezant

Avril Bezant

Research Assistant

Bailee Renouf

Bailee Renouf

Lab Technician

Courtney Kidd

Courtney Kidd

Research & Biobank Assistant

Emma Cooper

Emma Cooper

Research Assistant

Jo Cole

Jo Cole

Research Assistant, Birth Team

Jodie Leslie

Jodie Leslie

Research Assistant

Lisa Porter

Lisa Porter

Research Assistant

Poonam Pannu

Poonam Pannu

Project Officer

Dr Sarah Whalan

Dr Sarah Whalan

Data Coordinator

Longitudinal associations between maternal and child screen use at 1 year of age and child behavior and development at 3 years of age

Young children are increasingly exposed to evolving screen technology. International guidelines recommend no screen use for children under the age of 2 years, due to the potential for detrimental effects on behaviour and development. However, evidence for these guidelines is limited by inadequate consideration of device-specific effects (TV and mobile phone/tablet computer), maternal screen use, confounders such as maternal mental health and importance of effect sizes.

Stillbirth in Iceland 1996–2021: Incidence and etiology

This study describes the stillbirth rate in Iceland 1996-2021 and the causes of stillbirth according to the Stockholm classification of stillbirth, comparing time periods and gestational age groups.

Impact of health-oriented marketing claims on young adults’ alcohol product perceptions, hypothetical consumption, and beliefs: a randomized experiment

Health-oriented marketing claims commonly and increasingly feature on alcohol products and target younger consumers. This study aimed to test effects of such claims on young adults' alcohol product perceptions and intended consumption.

Colostrum as a Protective Factor Against Peanut Allergy: Evidence From a Birth Cohort

Food allergy affects families' quality of life, can be lifelong and life-threatening, urging the identification of early modifiable risk factors. Formula feeding in the first days of life may increase the risk of cow's milk allergy, a risk often attributed to cow's milk allergens exposure. Early formula feeding also reduces the colostrum intake, the first 3 days' milk, which is rich in bioactive compounds critical for immune and gut health. This study investigates whether partial colostrum feeding increases the risk of food allergy beyond cow's milk.

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