Professor Carol Dezateux, Scientific Director of Life Study, will present 'Life Study: Identifying Pathways to Health in Early Life' on Thursday, September 10, as the first of a series of lectures to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the University of Leicester Medical School.
Life Study is a unique and world leading study which will track the growth, development, health and well-being of over 80,000 UK babies as they grow up, starting in pregnancy. It will support research which makes a difference to children and their lives.
In November 2013, Leicester was chosen as the second city to host Life Study with more than £1 million being invested in a dedicated centre, equipment and staff.
Professor Dezateux said: "Life Study is a research study which will help us to understand how to give children in Leicester and across the UK the best possible start in life. It focusses on some of the top concerns of parents in Leicester - and indeed of all those wanting to improve children's health and life chances.
"Starting this month Life Study will be contacting expectant mums and their partners in Leicester and inviting them to take part. We are very grateful to the parents and families who give their time to the Study. With their help we will be able to carry out ground breaking research to understand why and how important health problems such as childhood asthma and obesity start before birth and in infancy, and - as Meera Syal our Life Study Ambassador said - why conditions like diabetes affect some groups of families more than others.
"This lecture is a great chance to explain the science behind Life Study. We hope that the students and researchers attending the lecture will be inspired to use the information Life Study families provide to research pathways to better health for our children and for the adults they will become."
Pregnant women planning to give birth at Leicester Royal Infirmary and Leicester General Hospital and their partners will be invited to join the study in the second half of the pregnancy and again when their baby is six and 12 months. Recruitment was due to begin this summer with appointments starting next month.
'Life Study: Identifying Pathways to Health in Early Life' by Professor Carol Dezateux is on Thursday 10 September from 1pm to 2pm in the Frank and Katherine May Lecture Theatre in the Henry Wellcome Building. The lecture is free and is open to graduates, students, staff and the public.
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