The ORIGINS Project is a collaboration between Telethon Kids Institute and Joondalup Health Campus. The longitudinal study is building a research platform to enable world-class investigations into when and why non-communicable diseases (NCDs) develop, through the study of early environments, maternal and paternal physical health, the microbiome and genetics.
As well as facilitating strategic long-term research capacity, ORIGINS is a pipeline for short-term productivity through a series of clinical trials, mechanistic studies, and targeted research questions.
The ORIGINS Project is a birth cohort study, designed to collect detailed information about how early environment influences the risk of a broad range of NCDs, including allergies, asthma, diabetes, and obesity and its many complications.
The ultimate goal of the project is to reduce the rising epidemic of chronic conditions through 'a healthy start to life'.
The ORIGINS Project team is recruiting women (and their partners) early in pregnancy and collecting data on their health, diet, physical activity patterns and a range of factors in their environment, as well as biological samples such as blood, hair, house dust, breastmilk and stool. The team will then assess how these early life exposures influence their child's growth, development and health (including neurodevelopment, evidence of allergies, infections, and other medical conditions).
Research shows that the development of many serious health conditions may occur as early as in the womb - or even earlier. So, what happens in pregnancy, or even our parents' health, can increase our risk of developing chronic health issues such as obesity, heart disease, allergies and poor mental health in later life.
The ORIGINS Project is integrated into the clinical and diagnostic services provided by the Joondalup Health Campus in Perth’s northern suburbs, giving clinicians (including midwives and laboratory staff) an opportunity to have research appointments in addition to clinical duties. This considerable collaboration brings a commitment to establishing a strong research focus in an existing infrastructure.
ORIGINS aims to create a complete databank of up to 10,000 families over the period of antenatal care to five years of age. This data will include bio samples, general health, education and other public data, and specific assessments and written data regarding patient symptoms, behaviours and their environment. This data will be obtained from patients at the Joondalup Health Campus Public and Private Hospitals, using their obstetric services.
Through strong partnerships with other national and international cohorts (eg the Raine study, GenV, Born in Bradford), the team is extending the knowledge frontier to explore the new and different challenges facing the generation of children today.
Collaboration and engagement are fundamental elements of The ORIGINS Project at every level. As such, ORIGINS seeks to engage researchers, clinicians, service providers, government and the wider community.
The ORIGINS Project
The ORIGINS Project
Team
ORIGINS Project projects
Reports and Findings
The Right Advice, from the Right Person, in the Right Way: Non-Engaged Consumer Families’ Preferences for Lifestyle Intervention Design Relating to Severe Obesity in Childhood
Family-based lifestyle interventions for children/adolescents with severe levels of obesity are numerous, but evidence indicates programs fail to elicit short- or longer-term weight loss outcomes. Families with lived experience can provide valuable insight as we strive to improve outcomes from programs. Our aim was to explore elements that families desired in a program designed to treat severe levels of obesity in young people.
Diabetes (Type 1) Published research Early Childhood Development ORIGINS Diabetes and Obesity Psychology of Active, Healthy Living Child and adolescent healthDimensions of the diet-exercise relationship in later life: A qualitative study
Diet and physical activity are two lifestyle behaviours that are critical for healthy ageing. The aim of this study was to explore how older adults negotiate dietary and physical activity decisions to identify areas of intersection between these two behaviours and inform health promotion interventions targeting both diet and exercise.
Published research ORIGINS Physical activityExperience of primary caregivers in utilising an mHealth application for remote dental screening in preschool children
This study aimed to address the acceptance of mHealth applications for a dental screening app that facilitates patient information entry and captures dental photos remotely to assist in caries diagnosis in preschool children in Australia.
Published research Early Childhood Development ORIGINS Subsite: ORIGINS Project Telehealth Dental HealthBeyond Plants: The Ultra-Processing of Global Diets Is Harming the Health of People, Places, and Planet
Global food systems are a central issue for personal and planetary health in the Anthropocene. One aspect of major concern is the dramatic global spread of ultra-processed convenience foods in the last 75 years, which is linked with the rising human burden of disease and growing sustainability and environmental health challenges.
Published research Nutrition ORIGINS Subsite: ORIGINS Project Climate change