ORIGINS Project

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.