The Generation Victoria (GenV) project will follow newborn babies and their parents over a two-year period to help solve problems such as asthma, food allergies, obesity and mental illness.
It will provide insight into some of the most complex problems faced by families via access to a more complete picture of the health and wellbeing of a generation.
ERH midwife Holly Simonsen has taken on the role of GenV recruiter at the hospital and will inform families about the project and invite them to participate.
“I thought it was an exciting and rewarding opportunity to assist in further research for Victorian families, particularly those in our community,” she said.
“From mid-2021, every family having a baby at Echuca Regional Health will be offered the chance to participate, no matter their background.
“This makes it unique not only within Australia but also globally.
“We are proud to be participating in GenV and look forward to supporting our local families in joining this project.”
Professor Melissa Wake, GenV Scientific director and a paediatrician of 30 years, said that by 2035, GenV’s vision was to have helped create a happier and healthier future for many children and parents.
“We are seeking to address the inequities that face so many children and families across Victoria,” she said.
“Because GenV will be in every community, it may be especially helpful to the most vulnerable individuals and communities in our state.”
Professor Wake said large, whole-of-state research projects such as GenV could speed up answers to the major issues facing children and adults today and for their futures.
“Over the next two years, around 150,000 children born in Victoria and their parents will have the opportunity to participate in the project,” she said.
“Put simply, by signing up to be a part of the GenV generation, parents will help to create a healthier future for all children and their families.”
GenV is led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, is supported by the Royal Children’s Hospital and University of Melbourne and is funded by the Paul Ramsay Foundation, the Victorian Government and the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Participation in the program is voluntary. Visit mcri.edu.au/genv for information.
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