The Children Growing Up in Liverpool (C-GULL) Study is a groundbreaking research project aimed at improving health outcomes for families in the Liverpool City Region. The study will follow the lives of 10,000 first-born babies and their families, from early pregnancy through childhood and beyond. This is the first large-scale birth cohort study of its kind in the region, and it has the potential to make a significant impact on our understanding of complex health issues.

Please watch our animation to find out more about the C-GULL study.

C-GULL Participant Information Animation

The Children Growing Up in Liverpool, C-GULL study, is tracking the health and wellbeing of children and their families in the Liverpool City Region.

We are collecting valuable information from 10,000 children and their families, starting in pregnancy and continuing throughout their lives. This type of study is called a longitudinal birth cohort.

C-GULL is the first dedicated birth cohort in Liverpool. We are inviting all women aged 16 and over, pregnant with their first child, being cared for at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital to take part.

We want to involve all women and partners, where appropriate.

Taking part is voluntary and you can change your mind and leave at any time.

If you decide not to take part - you will still receive the normal standard of care.

If you do decide to take part - you will be asked to sign a consent form.

You will be invited to visit the research Centre at Liverpool Women’s Hospital between 12-16 weeks and 32-36 weeks of your pregnancy. At each visit you will see a Research Midwife and be asked some questions, have some measurements taken and give a small sample of blood, urine and hair. When you have your child we will also like to take a sample of your placenta and some of the blood from your child’s cord.

Shortly after birth we will ask if we can measure your baby’s body composition using a special incubator, called a peapod. This does not take long and should not cause any pain or discomfort to your baby.

We will contact you again when your baby is 3 months old and again at 12 months of age. At 24 months we will invite you back to the Research Centre with your toddler so that we can catch up with you and see how your baby is growing and developing.

In the future we will invite you to take part in follow up assessments to discuss your child’s health and development. These assessments are voluntary.

We will also ask permission to request information from the NHS and other government departments.

All information and samples collected as part of the study will be stored legally and securely. If you withdraw from the study no further samples or data will be collected.

Taking part in this study will not put you or your baby at risk of harm and your normal maternity care will not be affected.

Taking part will mean that your child's development is tracked throughout their childhood, teenage years and beyond.

We believe that taking part in this study will help us to understand what can improve the lives and health of children and their families in the Liverpool City Region.

If you would like to take part or have any questions about this study - please contact a member of the research team.

The C-GULL study is a partnership between the University of Liverpool, Wellcome Trust, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Liverpool City Council, and the Liverpool Women’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The study is based at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital and will be delivered by a wide range of organisations. The information gathered through C-GULL will help researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to understand more about the early life origins of health and wellbeing.

People who are pregnant with their first pregnancy and have booked for their maternity care to be provided by Liverpool Women’s Hospital are eligible to participate in the study. The study will collect extensive biological, biometric, socio-demographic, and psychosocial information at multiple points throughout the pregnancy and the child's first two years of life. Innovative data collection methods will be used to assess a range of areas, including child development, family structure, physical and mental health, and the home environment.

Thinking of taking part?

Participation in C-GULL will provide parents and their first-born child with additional health checks and support during pregnancy and childhood. It will also help to create a valuable resource for future research that will benefit families both locally and globally. With the involvement of some of the top institutions in the field, the C-GULL study is poised to make a real difference in our understanding of the early life origins of health and wellbeing.

We invite you to learn more about the C-GULL study and consider participating to help improve the health outcomes of families in the Liverpool City Region.

If you are considering participating in the C-GULL study, please follow the relevant link below to find out more.

Pregnant People

Dads / Partners

C-GULL

C-GULL Participant Information Animation

Thinking of taking part?

Taking part

About the study

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