Table 1 Cohort study characteristics.

Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study; USA

Brain development and child health.

Probability sampling of schools within 21 catchment areas. Oversampling of schools with a student body >10% African American and located in rural/non-urban areas.

Sep 2016–Aug 2018

9–10 years

11,875 children

In-person assessments once a year, brief remote assessments at 6 months between in-person assessments. Yearly self-report, behavioral and biospecimen collections. Bi-annual brain imaging. Parents complete annual in-person iPad tasks and interviews, and 3- to 6-monthly phone interviews. Plan to follow up for 10 years (until age 19 – 20).

Born in Bradford (BiB); UK

Impacts of genetic, nutritional, environmental and social factors on health and development in childhood.

Eligible population was all pregnant women who planned to and gave birth at the Bradford Royal Infirmary (the only maternity unit in Bradford) during the recruitment period, their live born offspring and their partners.

Mar 2007–Dec 2010

Pregnancy (26–28 weeks gestation)

13,776 children

Whole cohort: Health worker visit at 2 weeks, 7 weeks and 8 months after birth. Primary school nurse data collection at age 5 – 6. Multi-method approach (community-based family visits, school-based physical assessment, whole classroom measures) at age 6 – 11.

Sub-cohorts: variable.

Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study (BIGCS); China

The role of social, biological and environmental influences on pregnancy and child health and development.

Eligible population included all women of Chinese nationality, living in Guangzhou, at 20 weeks of gestation and intend to deliver at one of the two Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center campuses.

Feb 2012–Dec 2023

Pregnancy

33,000 children

Neonatal birth information obtained from routine medical records. Interviews with mothers and child examinations in child health clinics at age 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months and 36 months, or by phone. Plan to follow up all children until age 18 years.

Chengdu Positive Child Development (CPCD) survey

Associations between school students’ sociodemographic, physical and psychological characteristics, family environment, lifestyle behaviors, academic performance and health status.

Cluster sampling to select five primary and middle schools in Chengdu from which students were recruited.

Dec 2019–Jan 2020

6–16 years

8825 children

Baseline survey completed by students’ caregivers and school principals. First follow-up conducted 6 months after baseline to capture the immediate impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Future follow ups planned via data linkage and questionnaires.

The French National Cohort of Children (ELFE); France

The relationship between environmental exposures and socio-economic factors on health and behavior.

Randomly selected 349 maternity units in metropolitan France, of which 320 participated. Stratified sampling strategy based on size of each unit to allow for oversampling in larger units. Recruitment took place during 25 selected days, grouped into four periods over the year. 51% of contacted women agreed to participate.

2011–2011

Birth

18,040 children

Interview and biosample collection at maternity unit after birth. Data collection waves take place approximately every 1 – 2 years and can include phone interviews, questionnaires, questionnaires for family or nursery school doctor, home visit, preschool teacher survey, web game questionnaires. Aim to continue follow up until children are age 20 years.

The Finnish Health in Teens (FIN-HIT) Study; Finland

Obesity, weight, weight gain and weight-related health outcomes.

Pilot: Home-based recruitment by mailed invitation among 11,000 randomly selected households. Participation rate at baseline of 30%.

Main: School-based recruitment in which 496 schools throughout Finland agreed to participate. Fieldworkers handed out invitations to 27,000 adolescents. Participation rate at baseline of 36%.

Pilot: 2011–2011

Main: 2013–2014

9–12 years

11,407 children

First active follow-up at age 13–15 years. Second active follow up at age 18–23 years (underway). Web questionnaires once participants reach 18 years. Participants have consented to link national health register data. Current ethical approval for follow-up until age 25 years.

Generation Victoria (GenV); Australia

Physical health, mental health and social issues during childhood. Childhood and adult antecedents of health or disease during ageing.

Eligible participants include all individuals born in a 2-year period and living in the state of Victoria, and their parents.

Advance birth window: Dec 2020–Oct 2023

Statewide birth window: Oct 2021–Oct 2023

Birth for establishment phase; 'Door’s Always Open’ recruitment at any age and indefinitely if in birth window

49,217 children at time of submission

Survey questions and digital assessments via web and smartphone app sent every 3 months until age 12 months, then every 6 months. Planning face-to-face phenotypic waves at 6, 11 and 16 years.

Hokkaido Birth Cohort Study on Environment and Children’s Health; Japan

Effects of environmental exposure and genetic predisposition on health and development in the prenatal period, infancy and early childhood.

Hokkaido: Eligible participants included pregnant women that visited one of the 37 hospitals or clinics in the Hokkaido area for prenatal healthcare.

Sapporo: Eligible participants included pregnant women who delivered at Toho hospital.

Hokkaido: Feb 2003–Mar 2012

Sapporo: Jul 2002–Oct 2005

Pregnancy (Hokkaido: before 13 weeks gestation; Sapporo: 23–25 weeks gestation)

Hokkaido large-scale: 20,926 pregnant women

Sapporo: 514 pregnant women

Survey at baseline and follow up surveys at child age 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 12 years. Face-to-face examinations in the Sapporo cohort at child age 6–7 months, 1.5, 3.5, 7 and 11–14 years. Face-to-face examinations in the Hokkaido cohort at child age 7, 9–11, 11–14 and 14–17 years. School-based data collection at age 13 in both cohorts. Additional data and biosample collection in Hokkaido cohort at age 8, 9–11 and 12 years.

Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS); Japan

The impact of environmental factors on children’s health and development.

Eligible participants included pregnant women recruited from prenatal healthcare examinations and local government offices in one of 15 Regional Centers. Regional centers were selected in a competitive process in which universities and research institutes submitted proposals.

Jan 2011–Mar 2014

Pregnancy

Main: 100,148

Sub-cohort: 10,302 children

Questionnaire and biosample collection at baseline. Biosample collection and baby health check at birth. Questionnaires every 6 months and face-to-face examination every several years. Environmental measurement from child age 6 months to 13 years. More in-depth follow-up in sub-cohort.

The Korean Children’s Environmental Health Study (Ko-Chens); South Korea

The effects of environmental exposures on health and environment-related diseases in children.

Eligible participants included pregnant women recruited from one of 14 centers (one coordinating center, one supportive center, and 12 regional centers).

Main: 2015–2019

Core: 2015–2018

Pregnancy

Main: 65,000

Core: 5,000 children

Main Cohort: Questionnaires and biosample collections at baseline and each follow-up. Follow-ups every year from birth to age 7 years and several school-based follow-ups up to 1st grade middle school.Core Cohort: More detailed baseline questionnaire. Follow up at age 6 months, every year from age 1 to 7 years, school-based follow up at age 7, 10, 13 and 16 years.

Lifelines; Netherlands

The etiology of healthy ageing.

Eligible participants included adults aged 25–50 years who were invited to participate through their General Practitioner (GP). GPs were based within three northern provinces of The Netherlands (Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe). Participants gave permission for their family members to be invited to participate.

2006–Dec 2013

Children are recruited at any age 0–18 years

14,801 children

Questionnaire every 1.5 years. Participants are invited to an in-person physical examination approximately every 5 years. Participants aged ≥8 years were invited to a face-to-face baseline assessment for physical examination. Linkage with health records and national registries.

The Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in Iran (PERSIAN) Birth Cohort; Iran

The role of socio-economic factors, lifestyle, diet, environmental exposures and epigenetic factors with mother and child health outcomes.

Eligible participants included pregnant women with Iranian nationality who have resided in the catchment area of the study center for at least one year, planned to give birth in a hospital located in the study area and plan to live in that city for the next 5 years. Enrollment took place in five Iranian cities (Isfahan, Yazd, Semnan, Rafsanjan and Sari).

Oct 2016–not described

Pregnancy

15,000 children (planned)

Child follow-up sessions take place at health centers at the time of routine child vaccinations at age 2, 4, 6 and 12 months. Annual follow-ups from age 24 months. The study provides free health check-up visits at pediatrician clinics every 4–6 months. Follow-ups include questionnaires, biosamples, physical examinations, clinical tests, hospital records, household survey and linked geocoded data. Plan to continue follow up until age 11 years.

The Shanghai Children’s Health, Education and Lifestyle Evaluation, Preschool (SCHEDULE-P) Study; China

Early childhood development.

Selected a representative sample from newly enrolled children in the kindergarten registration system of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission.

Sep 2016–not described

3–4 years

20,899 children

Three waves of online survey in 2016, 2018 and 2019. Field survey in 2019.

Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study (TMM BirThree Cohort Study); Japan

Common diseases that involve the interplay between genetic and environmental factors and the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Pregnant women and their fetuses were recruited from approximately 50 obstetric clinics and hospitals in the Miyagi Prefecture. The women’s partners, parents, children, and extended family members were also invited to participate, regardless of genetic relationship.

Jul 2013–Mar 2017

Pregnancy and siblings of newborn <20 years

32,602 children

Questionnaires are mailed to parents when children are age 6, 12, 24, 36, 42, 48 and 60 months. Questionnaires are sent once per year after the child reaches age 5 years. Linkage to municipality-based health examination, school health examination records and other systems. Guardians are asked to take their children to community support centers for health assessments at approximately age 4, 10 and 16 years, and bring the children’s maternal and child health handbooks for transcription.

Young-HUNT4 Study; Norway

Major public health issues including diseases, health behaviors, and mental health.

Eligible participants included all residents aged 13–19 years in the northern part of Trøndelag Country. 76% participation rate from those invited.

2017–2019

13–19 years

8066 children

First wave conducted in 2017–2019 where participants completed a questionnaire on electronic tablets, participated in clinical measurement and interview, and saliva samples were collected. Most adolescents participated while at school. Previous Young-HUNT cohorts have been followed up in later HUNT (adult) waves.