Origins longitudinal project: Telethon funded health study in WA welcomes 10,000th baby participant

One of the country’s biggest and most unique studies tracking the health and wellbeing of children from birth has reached a major milestone after welcoming its 10,000th — and final — baby to the project.

Based in WA, the Origins longitudinal project is the most comprehensive study of pregnant women and their families in Australia.

It was initiated in 2017 with the goal of recruiting 10,000 babies and their families who were receiving pregnancy care — or were planning to deliver their child at Joondalup Health campus.

Families from the Joondalup and Wanneroo areas signed up to take part in the study, which follows the participant for the first five years of their life.

Funded by Telethon, participating families have — over several years — provided thousands of biological samples and answered questionnaires about themselves and their babies’ habits and health.

The Origins researchers ultimately hope to use the data to improve child and adult health and deliver findings which may help reduce certain childhood diseases like asthma and eczema.

The team had good reason to celebrate last week when the birth of a little boy not only marked a major milestone for his family but also the study.

Christian Hough, who was born at Joondalup Health Campus on October 8, was the little bundle of joy who helped the study team reach its 10,000th baby participant milestone.

Christian’s older brother Jake, who is almost three, and mum Sarah are already study participants.

Now seven years into the study, the Origins team has collected a staggering 539,240 millilitres of blood from both babies and their parents. That’s enough to fill a commercial refrigerator.

A whopping 97,000 grams worth of stool samples — enough to fill one-and-a-half washing machines — has also been gathered.

As part of the project, study participants are also asked to collect a small sample of dust from their home. The study team has so far accumulated enough dust to fill three bathtubs.

Origins co-director and Professor of Paediatrics at Joondalup Health Campus Desiree Silva said the 10,000th baby milestone was a “great achievement.”

She said she and her research team ultimately hoped to reduce the rate of certain childhood related diseases by carefully analysing all of the data gathered.

“It really is a unique study,” Professor Silva said.

“We are really concerned about the rising rates of a number of childhood conditions like obesity, allergies, asthma and eczema . . . which we know some of those are partly pre-programmed in the womb, or in early life.

“With the rising rates of all of these conditions, you can see already that we struggle to provide paediatric support for these children . . . the waiting lists are enormous at the moment.

“What we really need to be looking at is why is this happening and how can we correct it, or at least reduce the symptoms.

“So Origins is very much trying to understand why there is this rise in what we call non-communicable diseases and how we can actually change that trajectory.

“Our main goal is to have happy and healthy children, and what can make a child really flourish.”

Professor Silva said another unique aspect of the study — which is a collaboration between Joondalup Health Campus and Kids Research Institute Australia — was that the research team was providing the participating families with real-time feedback and assistance as they needed it.

“We are not just watching them but we are also providing the parents and families real-time feedback on things and issues they might need to get help on,” she said.

“For example, if we find something abnormal in the (child’s development) then we will try and direct them to the right services and flag those issues.”

Christian’s mother Sarah Hough said taking part in the study was an easy choice for her family.

“The work Origins is undertaking is life changing, not only for my kids but future generations as well,” Ms Hough said.

“We feel proud to be part of a study that’s helping to save the lives of future children and help all families have a healthier start to life.

“I’ve also found it really helpful and very rewarding being able to help the researchers.”

Professor Silva said it was only because of the co-operation of families like Ms Hough’s that the Origins project had succeeded.

“Without our families, there is no Origins,” she said.

“Their commitment to research, the community, the health of their own families, and that of the next generation ensures that we can enable all children to have a healthy start for a better future.”