The study will attempt to understand how the first 1000 days of life impact adult health and well-being, and researchers will work on several trials targeting different health issues, including studying the microbiome of families.

Elucidating the study, Professor Craig Pennell, director of the chair of obstetrics and gynecology and professor of maternal and fetal medicine at Newcastle University, said that the microbiome – microorganisms that live on and in the inside of us – played a central role in health and disease.

“During pregnancy, a woman’s gut microbiome undergoes substantial changes that can influence weight gain and insulin insensitivity. In addition, changes in the makeup of the maternal microbiome have now been linked to important pregnancy-related health problems such as preterm delivery, restriction of fetal growth, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia These health problems can have a lasting effect on maternal and child health, ”said Professor Pennell.

Using the NEW1000 family study, researchers will investigate the role of the microbiome in the developmental origins of health and disease. Samples from mothers and fathers will be collected to see how their profiles influence their child’s microbiome development.

The study will use Microba’s highly reliable microbiome sample collection device to capture stool samples from the mothers, fathers and babies cohort.

Once collected, Microba will undertake high-resolution metagenomic sequencing of the gut microbiome throughout phases of the study, using its optimized sample processing workflow to comprehensively profile the gut microbiome of participants.

Dr Kylie Ellis, Head of Research Partnerships at Microba, explained that the company’s robust technologies for sample collection and sequencing are essential to establish high-quality data and generate meaningful results.

“This study is exciting for us and for Australian research because it will help us understand the influences on early life development that can be monitored and targeted to improve the health outcomes of mothers and babies throughout their lives. “said Dr Ellis.

“Microba is delighted to enable this high quality research in an area of ​​critical importance.”

The first phase will include 750 families, growing to 1,000 families each year for more than five years. There will be six samples per family – two from mom, one from dad and three from the child.

Professor Pennell said the study aimed to place children most at risk for chronic disease on a lifelong path of health.

“Imagine if you could predict disease in adults at an early stage, then use specific interventions to put people on trajectories of health rather than disease? He informed.

NEW1000 will bring together research groups, universities, organizations, institutions and the community to achieve this goal and improve the health of future generations.

According to the researchers, the study is being conducted to understand how the first 1,000 days of life can have a profound impact on health and well-being and to identify how precision medicine can improve lifelong health trajectories. The study is expected to look at several conditions, including high blood pressure, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, restricted growth or preterm delivery, asthma, allergies, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, medical conditions. cardiovascular, neurodevelopment and mental health.