4 April 2025
The Raine Study is proud to announce that it has been selected as one of the Channel 7 Telethon Trust beneficiaries for 2025.
The grant has been awarded to the Raine Study’s Scientific Director, Associate Professor Rebecca Glauert who stated, “Thanks to the generosity of Channel 7 Telethon Trust, and the Western Australian public who donated to Telethon, the Raine Study can maintain recruitment of the third generation of participants, who are the children of those born into this study between 1989 and 1991.”
Recruiting Generation Three of the Raine Study
Thanks to Channel 7 Telethon Trust funding, the Raine Study is now significantly poised to enhance the depth and breadth of the information it has collected. “So far, we’ve recruited almost 1000 Generation 3 participants who are aged between 0 and 19,” said A/Professor Glauert. “This funding allows us to build on that base,” she added.
With the Raine Study’s Generation 2 participants now aged 33 to 35 years old, they are at the stage of life where they are either starting or expanding their families. “Over the next five years, it is estimated that another 1100 Generation 3 babies could join this ground-breaking, world-class study,” A/Professor Glauert said.
The funds are used to conduct face-to-face assessments with the Generation 3 children, ensuring that the activities are appropriate for the age of the child or young person. The Raine Study obtains full consent and protects participant privacy by immediately de-identifying biological samples and lifestyle data collected through questionnaires.
This information is then used by researchers in health and medicine to conduct studies in a range of areas, including physical and mental health, genetics, cardiometabolic health, diet, hormonal and reproductive health, sleep, senses, and more.
The Benefits of Multigenerational Data Collection
This funding empowers the Raine Study to collect data across multiple generations, providing an unparalleled resource for researchers in the future, which is the essence of a longitudinal, prospective cohort study.
By studying multiple generations within the same families, researchers can identify patterns and factors that reveal intergenerational influences on health and disease. A/Professor Glauert stated, “Channel 7 Telethon Trust funding has a domino effect. It not only enhances the health and wellbeing of children today, it also deepens our understanding of how genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors interact over a lifetime, ultimately benefiting future generations.
About the Raine Study
Established in 1989, the Raine Study is the world’s longest-running pregnancy cohort study. It has followed the health and development of its participants from before birth into adulthood, providing invaluable insights for researchers worldwide. The study has comprehensively assessed physical and mental health, genetics, diet, and more, making it a crucial resource for understanding the long-term causes of health and disease. The Raine Study continues to contribute to significant scientific discoveries globally that benefit the entire community.
Loyal Participants are the Heart of this Study
The unwavering loyalty of Generation 2 participants is truly remarkable, especially considering that most longitudinal health studies don’t last more than five years. Their dedication to involving this third generation makes this study feel like family, creating a unique and special bond among staff and participants.
For further information contact Raine Study at rainestudy.comms@uwa.edu.au
