The case for launch of an international DNA-based birth cohort study.

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Igor Rudan, University of Edinburgh; Mickey Chopra, UNICEF Headquarters; Yurii Aulchenko, Independent Scientist and Consultant; Abdullah H. Baqui, Johns Hopkins University; Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Aga Khan University; Karen Edmond, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Bernardo L. Horta, Federal University of Pelotas; Keith P Klugman, Emory University; Claudio F. Lanata, Instituto de Investigación Nutricional; Shabir A. Madhi, University of Witwatersrand; Harish Nair, University of Edinburgh; Zeshan Qureshi, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary; Craig Rubens, Seattle Children’s Met Park West; Evropi Theodoratou, University of Edinburgh; Cesar G. Victora, Federal University of Pelotas; Wei Wang, Capital Medical University; Martin W. Weber, World Health Organization; James F. Wilson, University of Edinburgh; Lina Zgaga, University of Edinburgh; Harry Campbell, University of Edinburgh
• Language: English
• Date: 2011-06-01
• Publisher: Edinburgh University Global Health Society
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2011 by the Journal of Global Health. All rights reserved.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/the-case-for-launch-of-an-international-dnabased-birth-cohort-study(3b1359af-3be7-4c0c-943a-9df7f48ec72a).html
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Global Health
• ISSN: 2047-2978
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 39
• End Page: 45
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

The global health agenda beyond 2015 will inevitably need to broaden its focus from mortality reduction to the social determinants of deaths, growing inequities among children and mothers, and ensuring the sustainability of the progress made against the infectious diseases. New research tools, including technologies that enable high-throughput genetic and '-omics' research, could be deployed for better understanding of the aetiology of maternal and child health problems. The research needed to address those challenges will require conceptually different studies than those used in the past. It should be guided by stringent ethical frameworks related to the emerging collections of biological specimens and other health related information. We will aim to establish an international birth cohort which should assist low- and middle-income countries to use emerging genomic research technologies to address the main problems in maternal and child health, which are still major contributors to the burden of disease globally.