The groundbreaking UK research project will soon begin to portray the lives of thousands of babies, providing unprecedented insights into childhood and shaping policies for future generations.
The £42.8 million generation of new age birth cohort study will recruit families starting in the summer of 2026. This is the first UK-wide longitudinal birth cohort in a quarter-century funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
The launch coincides with the government’s new policy paper, “Give every child the best start in life.”
Commenting on the initiative, the UK Minister of Science Balance said:
“The results will help us to submit plans for change, break barriers to opportunity by revamping our education systems, healthcare facilities and more, and focus on the greatest benefits of newborns across the UK.”
Continuing the tradition of the UK birth cohort
The UK has long been a world leader in birth cohort research.
Since the 1946 National Survey of Health and Development, consecutive studies have followed tens of thousands of participants, tracking how childhood experiences shape life. These projects have had a major impact on public health, education and social policy.
Previous findings include evidence that smoking during pregnancy contributed to a two-third reduction in pregnancy, leading to poor birth outcomes in mothers.
While research on infant sleep posture helped prevent more than 100,000 crib deaths around the world, data on early education and literacy paved the way for a national initiative that increased adult literacy rates by 13%.
Based on this heritage, generations of New Era aim to provide robust, long-term evidence that has changed lives for decades.
Why we make generations different in new eras
Along with Professors Alyssa Goodman and Lisa Calderwood at University College London (UCL), and Professor Pascofiaon at Cambridge University, this study focuses on two key moments of early development in children.
Unlike previous projects, Generation New Era truly employs a four-country perspective. Researchers from Swansea University, Ulster University and Edinburgh University will be involved and will intentionally expand recruitment to include families from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as families from ethnic minorities and low-income communities.
The father also becomes a priority group for engagement, helping to capture a more complete picture of modern family life.
In total, over 60,000 families will be invited to participate, with 30,000 people expected to participate. The long-term ambition is to track participants throughout their lifetimes and create resources that reflect the diversity and complexity of childhood in the 2020s.
Goodman added: “We are extremely excited and extremely proud to announce the launch of the first new UK-wide birth cohort in a quarter century. A new era of generations is a groundbreaking scientific effort that will improve children’s lives and benefit science and society for years to come.
“In this rapidly changing world, it is important to have a wealth of data on the lives of children and families, especially those of less fortunate and frequently asked groups.
“Leaving on the shoulders of the UK’s famous birth cohort study, which has tracked multiple generations of people over the past 80 years, a new generation of generations aims to shed light on the biggest challenges facing society today.”
Formation of policy and practice
One of the most important impacts of this new birth cohort is in government policy decisions.
By providing contemporary evidence on child health, development and family circumstances, a new era of generation gives decision makers a strong foundation for reform.
The findings help identify which interventions are most effective in supporting children before school, shed light on the challenges faced by underrepresented groups, and provide mechanisms to assess early programmes.
Importantly, comprehensive design ensures that policymakers are not only looking at the average, but also seeing the living reality of families from very different backgrounds.
Engagement with parents, researchers and stakeholders is expected to begin in fall 2025. This consultation forms research questionnaires and methods, ensuring that they are relevant and sensitive to family experiences.
Lessons from previous generations
Early British Birth Cohort Study demonstrates the value of long-term investments in childhood research.
For example, a study from the Millennium Cohort revealed that one in four girls had symptoms of depression by the age of 14.
Other studies highlighted educational disadvantages in summer-born children and the long-term risks associated with childhood obesity, leading to policy changes in schools and health services.
Family policy has also been restructured thanks to cohort evidence. The introduction of paid parental leave, adoption leave, continuing maternity leave, and the right to request flexible work all stem from data showing the significant benefits of parental involvement in the early stages of a child.
Investing in the future
A new generation of generations represents a major national effort to understand how children grow and grow in a rapidly changing world.
With its ambitious scale, comprehensive design and long-term vision, this study promises to provide evidence that shapes education, healthcare and social policy for decades.
This is more than just a research project. It’s a generational investment. It helps to ensure that every child in the UK is off to the best possible start in life.
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