Victorian researchers are embarking on one of the largest health studies in the world, tracking a whole generation of Victorians to paint a complete picture of their health and wellbeing, and to help provide answers to complex health issues like asthma, food allergies, obesity, autism and mental illness.
Over the next two years around 150,000 children born in Victoria and their parents will have the opportunity to take part in the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute’s Generation Victoria (GenV) project – officially launched yesterday.
Starting at the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s at Sunshine Hospital, the project will roll out to all Victorian birthing hospitals throughout 2021, providing families with a baby born between 2021 and 2023 with the opportunity to join the long-term study, no matter where they live.
“This is an incredible project that will provide a health and wellbeing map of Victoria – benefitting Victorians for generations to come,” said Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford.
“It will allow our world-leading researchers to break new ground and make discoveries that will improve the quality of life for Victorians in every corner of the state.”
She said the opt-in project would explore critical links between environment, genetics, physical characteristics and development milestones later in life. All information obtained in the study will be de-identified and the highest privacy provisions will be enforced.
The first project of its kind in Australia, GenV will give Victoria’s research community access to a more complete picture of the health and wellbeing of a generation, providing the insight and information needed to make breakthroughs in some of the most complex health problems faced by families.
“GenV’s vision is to have helped create a happier and healthier future for many children and parents,” said Director of GenV atMurdoch Children’s Research Institute Professor Melissa Wake.
“Because participation in GenV will be open to every community in Victoria – metropolitan, suburban and regional – it has the potential to help children everywhere and especially the most vulnerable.”
As part of the GenV project, one of the world’s largest biobanking facilities was recently built at the Royal Children’s Hospital to store and protect biosamples.
This state-of-the-art facility will provide researchers in fields like allergy studies, nutrition, mental health and immunity with the tools they need to analyse trends and make therapeutic discoveries for years to come.
GenV is a joint initiative between the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the Royal Children’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne, and is proudly supported by the Andrews Labor Government, the Paul Ramsay Foundation and the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation.
