Generation R

Generation R is a prospective, population basedcohort study from fetal life until young adulthood in a multi-ethnic urban population inRotterdam, the Netherlands.^[1] The study is designed to identify early environmental andgenetic causes of normal and abnormalgrowth,development andhealth.^[2] Eventually, results forthcoming from the Generation R Study have to contribute to the development of strategies for optimizing health andhealthcare for pregnant women and children.^[3]

The study focuses on five primary areas of research:

Growth and physical development
Behavioral and cognitive development
Asthma and atopy
Diseases in childhood
Health and healthcare

Study cohort

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The children form a prenatally recruited birth cohort that will be followed until youngadulthood. In total, 9778 mothers with a delivery date from April 2002 until January 2006 were enrolled in the study. Of all eligible children at birth, 61% participate in the study. A large part of this study cohort consists ofethnic minorities.

Data collection

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Data collection in theprenatal phase included physical examinations,questionnaires, foetalultrasound examinations and biological samples. In addition, more detailed assessments are conducted in a subgroup of 1232 pregnant women and their children. At the age of 5 years, all children were invited to visit the Generation R research centre for detailed assessments. This was repeated at the age of 9 years.