CHILD Cohort Study

The Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development Study (CHILD) is designed to address gaps in understanding complex gene-environment interactions during pregnancy and early childhood and provides a platform for study of the development of atopic diseases including asthma, allergy, allergic rhinitis, and eczema and other non-communicable diseases such as obesity and diabetes with early life origins. As CHILD researchers follow participants through to post-puberty, the clinical focus of the study will further expand to include neurodevelopment, and outcomes such as chronic obstructive disease and cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.

Overview

Acronym
CHILD
Website
CHILD
Investigators
Dr. Malcolm Sears
McMaster University
Dr. Padmaja Subbarao
The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto
Dr. Meghan Azad
University of Manitoba
Dr. Jeff Brook
Universit of Toronto
Dr. Michael Kobor
University of British Columbia
Dr. Wendy Lou
University of Toronto
Dr. Piush Mandhane
University of Alberta
Dr. Stuart Turvey
BC Children's Hospital
Dr. Elinor Simons
University of Manitoba
Contacts
Elissa Brookes
CHILD National Coordinating Centre

General Design

Study design
Cohort
Start - End Year
2008 -
General Information on Follow Up (profile, frequency)
After recruitment, participants are followed at 36 weeks, at birth, and 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 1.5 years, 2 years, 2.5 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years, 8 years and 12 years postpartum.
Recruitment Target
  • Families
Number of Participants
9,875
Number of Participants with Biological Samples
9,464
Supplementary information about number of participants
Mothers: 3579 participants
Fathers: 2841 participants
Children: 3455 participants

Access

Availability of data and biosamples

Possible Access to Data
Possible Access to Biosamples
Other

Sector of research

Possible Access to Data Possible Access to Biosamples
Investigators from the public sector
Investigators from the private sector
Investigators from not-for-profit organization

If an industry partner or private sector researcher are interested in working with the CHILD Cohort study, the study takes a collaborative research approach whereas the industry partner or private sector researcher is linked up with a CHILD Cohort Study Executive or Advisory Board member.

Transfer

Possible Access to Data Possible Access to Biosamples
Can leave the study facility
Can leave the country

All Investigators must apply to access CHILD data and samples, and sign a Materials and Information Transfer Agreement, which includes the conditions for access.

Cost

Possible Access to Data Not yet defined
Possible Access to Biosamples Fixed Cost

Cost reduction for co-analyses

Possible Access to Data
Possible Access to Biosamples

larger sample numbers allow better pricing from analysis labs

Marker Papers

Subbarao P, Anand SS, Becker AB, et al. The Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Study: examining developmental origins of allergy and asthma. Thorax. 2015 Oct;70(10):998-1000. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2015-207246. Epub 2015 Jun 11.

PUBMED 26069286

Timeline

Populations

CHILD - Mothers
The population is composed of women aged 18 years and older, who are in their second or third trimester of pregnancy at time of recruitment, and living in the four selected communities across Canada.

Selection Criteria

Sex
Women only
Minimum age
18
Pregnant Women
  • Second trimester
  • Third trimester
Countries
  • Canada
Canadian Provinces
  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • Ontario
Territory
Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Morden, Winkler, Toronto
Other Criteria
Second or third trimester of pregnancy
Supplementary Information about selection criteria
Approximately 25% non-Caucasian families

Sources of Recruitment

General Population
  • Volunteer enrolment
Specific Population
  • Clinic patients
Supplementary Information
Parents are recruited at routine antenatal obstetrical ultrasound visits, person to person referrals, social media advertising, at kiosks at community events, malls and baby shows, and in health care locations.

Sample Size

Number of Participants
3,579
Number of Participants with Biological Samples
3,487
Supplementary information about number of participants
82 children failed inclusion criteria or met exclusion criteria at birth resulting in 3542 eligible mothers for follow-up.

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 CHILD - Mothers - 18 weeks gestation
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Saliva
2008 (January) 2012 (December)
1 CHILD - Mothers - 36 weeks gestation
  • Questionnaires
2008 (May) 2013 (April)
2 CHILD - Mothers - Birth
  • Questionnaires
2008 (May) 2013 (May)
3 CHILD - Mothers - 3 months postpartum
  • Questionnaires
  • Biosamples
  • Other : Breast milk
2008 (August) 2013 (August)
4 CHILD - Mothers - 6 months postpartum
  • Questionnaires
2008 (November) 2013 (November)
5 CHILD - Mothers - 1 year postpartum
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Saliva
2009 (May) 2014 (May)
6 CHILD - Mothers - 1.5 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
2009 (November) 2014 (November)
7 CHILD - Mothers - 2 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
2010 (May) 2015 (May)
8 CHILD - Mothers - 2.5 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
2010 (November) 2015 (November)
9 CHILD - Mothers - 3 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
2011 (May) 2016 (May)
10 CHILD - Mothers - 4 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
2012 (May) 2017 (May)
11 CHILD - Mothers - 5 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
2013 (May) 2018 (May)
12 CHILD - Mothers - 8 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Saliva
2018 (August) 2020 (December)
13 CHILD - Mothers - 12 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Saliva
  • Other : Allergy skin prick test
2021 (January) Ongoing
CHILD - Children
The population is composed of the children of the women already included in the study, born at or after 35 weeks at a designated recruitment center participating hospital.

Selection Criteria

Newborns
Countries
  • Canada
Canadian Provinces
  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • Ontario
Territory
Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Morden, Winkler, Toronto
Health Status
  • Apparently healthy children
Other Criteria
Premature, in vitro and children that were expected to spend less than 80% of their time in the primary home or if there was any expectation to move away from a recruitment center within 1 year were excluded. Children with major congenital abnormalities or respiratory distress syndrome, or children of multiple births were excluded as well.

Sources of Recruitment

Specific Population
  • Other specific population : Children of mothers who were participating in the study when they were born.

Sample Size

Number of Participants
3,455
Number of Participants with Biological Samples
3,417
Supplementary information about number of participants
The number of participants with biological samples varies depending on the nature of sample and time point for collection (range 2000-3300).

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 CHILD - Children - Birth
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Other : Medical chart
  • Cord blood
  • Other : Meconium/stool
2008 (May) 2012 (May)
1 CHILD - Children - 3 months postpartum
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Urine
  • Other : Nasal swab, stool and dust
2008 (August) 2013 (August)
2 CHILD - Children - 6 months postpartum
  • Questionnaires
2008 (November) 2013 (November)
3 CHILD - Children - 1 year postpartum
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
  • Saliva
  • Other : Nasal swab, stool
2009 (May) 2014 (May)
4 CHILD - Children - 1.5 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Urine
2009 (November) 2014 (November)
5 CHILD - Children - 2 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
2010 (May) 2015 (May)
6 CHILD - Children - 2.5 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
2010 (November) 2015 (November)
7 CHILD - Children - 3 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
2011 (May) 2016 (May)
8 CHILD - Children - 4 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
2012 (May) 2017 (May)
9 CHILD - Children - 5 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Saliva
2013 (May) 2018 (May)
10 CHILD - Children - 8 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Urine
  • Saliva
  • Other : Nasal swabs, stools and teeth
2018 (August) 2020 (December)
12 CHILD - Children - 12 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
  • Cognitive measures
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Other : GPS, ASA24, Actigraphy
  • Blood
  • Urine
  • Saliva
  • Other : Nasal swabs, stools, allergy skin prick test
2021 (January) Ongoing
CHILD - Fathers
The population is composed of the fathers of the children born into the study.

Selection Criteria

Sex
Men only
Countries
  • Canada
Canadian Provinces
  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • Ontario
Territory
Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Morden, Winkler, Toronto
Supplementary Information about selection criteria
Participation of fathers is not a mandatory requirement. Fathers were eligible to join the study at any time during follow-up.

Sources of Recruitment

Specific Population
  • Other specific population : Partners of the women and fathers of the children who were recruited to participate in the CHILD study.
Supplementary Information
Fathers are recruited at routine antenatal obstetrical ultrasound visits, person to person referrals, social media advertising, at kiosks at community events, malls and baby shows, and in health care locations.

Sample Size

Number of Participants
2,841
Number of Participants with Biological Samples
2,560

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 CHILD - Fathers - 18 weeks gestation
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Saliva
2008 (January) 2012 (December)
1 CHILD - Fathers - 1 year postpartum
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Saliva
2009 (May) 2014 (May)
2 CHILD - Fathers - 5 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
2013 (May) 2018 (May)
3 CHILD - Fathers - 8 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
  • Saliva
2018 (August) 2020 (December)
4 CHILD - Fathers - 12 years postpartum
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Other : Allergy skin prick test
  • Blood
  • Saliva
2021 (January) Ongoing

Participating Studies

Acronym Name Study design Countries

Harmonization Initiatives Included

Acronym Name

Datasets

Name Data Collection Events Variables

Areas of Information Collected

Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
Death
Lifestyle and behaviours
Physical measures and assessments
Birth, pregnancy and reproductive health history
Laboratory measures
Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
Diseases
Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
Symptoms and signs
Preschool, school and work life
Medication and supplements
Social environment and relationships
Non-pharmacological interventions
Physical environment
Health and community care services utilization
Administrative information

Variables Content Summary

Areas of Information Collected
No Areas of Information Collected
No Scales Collected
Areas of Information Collected per per Population and Data Collection Event
No Areas of Information Collected
No Scales Collected

Networks

Acronym Name Harmonization Initiatives Individual Studies
Last Update: 2025-05-05T09:38:41.559