More and more Canadians are affected by chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, diabetes, and mental illnesses. Many of these conditions have their origins in early life (conception, pregnancy, infancy, and childhood). Numerous outstanding Canadian pregnancy and birth cohort studies have been implemented to explore hypotheses related to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD).

The Research Advancement through Cohort Cataloguing and Harmonization (ReACH) initiative was formerly established in 2016 to provide the Canadian research community with the means to leverage and carry out leading-edge collaborative research. ReACH initiative will provide resources in the form of a comprehensive web-based catalogue and an harmonization platform to optimize and expand the use of Canadian pregnancy and birth cohorts data and biological samples. Ultimately, ReACH initiative will enhance the capacity for collaborative and cross-disciplinary research (outputs generated faster and at a lower cost), expand research perspectives (leverage national and international collaborations), improve quality of research practices, and foster the development of innovative and reliable evidence-based research on the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease.

ReACH initiative is funded through a CIHR Operating Grant for the Canadian DoHaD Cohort Registry (2016-2021).