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Sub-projects

As well as ORIGINS long-term core research, there are a number of clinical trials, early interventions and shorter-term research studies that sit within the project.

The ORIGINS Project provides additional opportunities to be involved in exciting new sub-projects that allow further benefits to be gained by families already involved in ORIGINS.

These sub-projects have been launched off the main ORIGINS project and look at multiple aspects of child and family health and development.

In addition to the below sub-projects, at least a further 20 studies are currently under development or seeking approval and/or funding.

Click HERE for a full list and outline of current ORIGINS sub-projects.

Community Wellbeing during COVID-19 – Investigating the impact of COVID-19 on emotional wellbeing, perceived stress, financial hardship and family functioning within the ORIGINS community.

Nature Play & Grow - The Nature Play & Grow study aims to address the concerning trend for unhealthy behaviours in young children, which can contribute to long-term lifestyle habits.

Happy Parenting Program - investigating new ways to provide support to parents with young children from an early age to discover how we can better help parents establish a good relationship with their child from infancy.

Mums Minds Matter – Pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood can involve many new challenges. This project aims to pilot three different programs of support for emotional health, to compare how they influence well-being and stress among pregnant women.

Positive Family Foundations - We hope that parents will build a more connected relationship with each other and their baby by participating in a new group intervention program, based on the principles of co-parenting and reflective functioning.

ACE Feeding Study - collecting information on the opinions and attitudes of new mothers around breastfeeding, as well as looking at the breastfeeding rates of women in WA.

Global Gut Bacteria in Newborns - seeking to understand how certain bacteria (beneficial Bifidobacterium) in the gut of babies ‘feed’ on the sugars present in breastmilk, and how this differs across global populations. We are trying to pinpoint what genes these friendly bacteria use to digest this precious first ‘food’ during a critical and influential developmental phase of life.

Dental Screening Study - Assessing whether still images taken from a child’s mouth by his/her parents, using a smartphone camera, can be used as an alternative to face-to-face dental examination to provide potentially low-cost and sustainable preventive dental care for children, that can still be conducted during a pandemic.

Kindy Readiness Project – Reviewing the development and wellbeing of children, prior to them commencing preschool, kindergarten and/or an early learning environment. This sub-project is for Routine Data participants only, as full ORIGINS participants receive this review within the core ORIGINS protocol already.

BENEFIT and PrEggNut – By age one, 10% of babies will develop a food allergy. We are trying to answer the question of whether the amount of eggs and peanuts a mother eats during pregnancy and breastfeeding has an influence on reducing the chances her baby will develop an egg or peanut food allergy. Participants will receive complimentary peanuts and peanut butter, breastfeeding advice if needed, and dietary education on the introduction of solid foods to their baby.

The Cashew Study - Investigating different doses of cashew nut spread regularly eaten by babies from 6 months of age to 1 year of age to see whether it reduces the chances a baby will develop a cashew nut food allergy.

CARE-Dads – Dads play an important role within the family as their involvement in child-rearing enhances the health of their children. Studies have shown that a father’s involvement in his child's life can be associated with positive child outcomes. Dads (partners) receive a free health check-up, including results of cholesterol and blood sugar tests, and advice on improving health. This is over two time points: during pregnancy and when the child is one year old.

Early Moves – Using home videos, researchers will investigate whether we can identify babies at risk of cognitive difficulties very early to provide critical support and intervention.

TUMS – Looking at domestic tap water quality and how this shapes the friendly bacteria that inhabit the gut in early childhood.

The CUB Study – Video technology is helping researchers learn more about the early communication style of infants with a family history of autism, ADHD or intellectual disability.

AERIAL– Studying the importance of the cells lining the airways in the nose and lungs, known as the epithelial cells. This study will look at the epithelial cells in the nose at birth to help to understand the development of early-life airway conditions.

SYMBA – Investigating whether taking a high fibre prebiotic supplement during pregnancy (and whilst breastfeeding) will help to reduce the risk of children developing allergic disease, like eczema. Prebiotics improve the balance of ‘healthy bacteria’ in the gut and we know that a mother’s diet and gut health in pregnancy can have an important effect on the development of a baby’s immune system.

TALK – Calling on families to help us better understand how testosterone exposure in the womb may be related to brain growth before birth, and language development after birth. Participants receive two 3D scans during pregnancy with images provided on a USB to keep, as well as a development check of their child at 6-9mths with real-time feedback.

Screen ORIGINS – This research will assess what influences family screen use, with a focus on mobile devices like tablets and smartphones, and measure the potential implications of screen time on a child’s health and development.

The Mast Cell Study - Comparing how mast cells within the immune system are “programmed” in allergic and non-allergic children at one year of age.

ADAPTS - Looking at whether probiotics can improve the health of babies that have received antibiotics early in life.