Spit in a tube to join world-first national childhood DNA health study, co-led by University of Cambridge
A new national childhood DNA health resource for research from birth through adolescence will be created with the help of the University of Cambridge, writes editor Paul Brackley.
Described as a “tremendous opportunity” to transform our understanding of how genetics impacts children’s health, the programme is a world first and the biggest health initiative of its kind in this country.
Open to any child aged 0 to 15 with parental consent, it involves donating a saliva sample and answering a health and lifestyle questionnaire.
The information and sample are depersonalised and then join the database – known as the DNA, Children and Young People’s Health Resource, or D-CYPHR.
Studying thousands of DNA samples and this data will help scientists better understand how our genes and our environment influence our health. The work is expected to play a key role in pioneering new treatments and creating better care for children and adults and improve our knowledge of everything from mental health to heart disease.
The programme is led by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) BioResource in partnership with the NHS, Anna Freud and the University of Cambridge, and will involve Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Cambridge University Hospitals.
Dr Anna Moore, clinical lead for D-CYPHR at the University of Cambridge, said: “Today we are at the beginning of the most tremendous opportunity which will transform our understanding of genetics for children's health: a moment where families can help much needed health research from home. This will boost all the amazing research happening across the UK.”
The researchers say many serious health conditions start in the first two decades of life, with more than 1.7 million children in England alone suffering from long-term health conditions. But most health research is carried out with adults, meaning we miss important opportunities to understand how disease starts, develops and its causes, and are limited in developing new treatments.
Dr Xand van Tulleken, the BBC presenter, urged parents and their children to get involved: “We urgently need research projects that support children’s health and we need children to volunteer to help!
“Children are amazing – I’m constantly astounded by their bravery in stepping up for causes they believe in. Wwe’re offering the chance to be a hero for healthcare – just by spitting in a tube.
“D-CYPHR will help future children, and it will help all of us in our adult lives. The ambition and scope of the D-CYPHR project is awe inspiring and it relies on these incredible volunteers to make amazing discoveries from which all of us, children and adults, will benefit.”
Our understanding of genetics has already transformed our approach to many conditions improving how diabetes is treated in children, for example, and there has been a national roll-out of whole genome sequencing for babies and children in intensive care to help us understand and treat illness.
D-CYPHR will support this work and map development in children and young people. Our development, and the likelihood of us getting a disease, is impacted by our environment and experiences while growing up together with genetics. A better understanding of this will help treatments be tailored, enable earlier diagnoses or even prevent some illnesses, such as heart disease and type II diabetes.
Dr Moore added: “We’ve carefully designed and piloted the programme alongside children, schools and families over two years. This has been very important as this project will also be a way to address inequality in health research – health research needs to benefit everyone, and so we need children and young people from all backgrounds to get involved.
“Each sample joins a resource with thousands of others showing how environment and genetics affect health. The potential of D-CYPHR is therefore massive. We’re excited to unlock these secrets together with the young heroes agreeing to help us.”
The D-CYPHR programme will support research into any health conditions that begin in or have their origins in childhood, not just a specific condition or age group – something that has not been done before.
Suzie, a mother and D-CYPHR participant, said: “I saw my daughter Sophie's journey from a very unwell newborn with significant health challenges, to a vibrant and active seven-year-old, enjoying life to the fullest. She’s now thriving and loves reading, baking, riding, and drama, which brings immense joy to her and our family.
“D-CYPHR is an opportunity for us to support research that might give answers to other parents in our situation, as well as create better treatments for millions of people.”
To find out how you can take part, visit the D-CYPHR website at bioresource.nihr.ac.uk/dcyphr.
