BaBi research

BaBi Wakefield is a data linkage birth cohort study. This means that data which is routinely collected about the study participants is linked together for research purposes. In this case, the data and the research relate to the health and wellbeing of families across our district.

Birth cohort studies look at the relationship between factors during pregnancy and in the postnatal period, and the health of the newborn child from birth to adulthood. This approach provides valuable research to investigate and evaluate important questions about how health and wellbeing can be improved.

By recruiting pregnant women and their newborn babies to the cohort, this study offers the potential to:

• assess the determinants of childhood and adult disease
• assess the impact of migration
• explore the influences of pregnancy and childbirth on subsequent health
• generate and test hypotheses that have the potential to improve health for some of the most disadvantaged within our society.

The best way we can demonstrate how research can make a difference locally is by looking at what has already been achieved in Bradford.

This section provides information on some of the projects which researchers have already investigated, as well as the projects which are in progress now.

But don’t just take our word for it! You can also hear from some of the families who have taken part.

The overarching BaBi study is sponsored by Bradford Teaching Hospitals Trust, which houses the Bradford Institute of Health Research. It is part of a portfolio of research being driven by the Yorkshire and Humber Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) and supported by the National Institute of Health Research and adopted to their portfolio of studies. It has been reviewed by the national Health Research Authority and independent Research Ethics Committee.

BaBi Wakefield is hosted by Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, which is undertaking the study with support from the Wakefield Research Hub.