UCL Life Study team looking for participants for a pilot project at UCH

Before the main part of the study starts next year, Life Study is planning to try out some of the questions, measures and processes with these volunteers to get the study design right. By giving about two hours of their time just once in the coming weeks to support preparations for the main study in 2014, they will be making a real difference in the lives of children and families, now and in the future.

Professor Carol Dezateux, Director of Life Study and paediatrician at University College London's Institute of Child Health, explains:

"There are many things we need to understand about how babies develop before and after birth and what it means for their future health, education or life chances.

"For example, why have illnesses like asthma, eczema and food allergies become more common? What are the best ways we can prepare children to start school?

"Life Study aims to collect information about children in pregnancy and their very early years to understand how experiences early in life shape health, development and wellbeing as children grow up.

"It's important that Life Study involves families from different backgrounds, communities and cultures to understand how to give all children the best possible start in life."

If you would like to find out more, please contact the Life Study research team on freephone 0800 652 3751 or email lifestudy@natcen.ac.uk. 

You can also find Life Study on Facebook and Twitter @LifeStudyUCL. 

The project has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee.