LIFE Leipzig Research Centre for Civilization Diseases
LIFE Leipzig Research Centre for Civilization Diseases
The Leipzig Research Centre for Civilization Diseases (LIFE) Child Study is a prospective
 longitudinal population-based study with a life course approach to health and disease.

 The LIFE Child Study focuses on two main research objectives:

 -  What are premises of normal growth, development and health in children?

 -  Which factors contribute to the development of non-communicable diseases such as
 childhood obesity and its co-morbidities, atopy and mental health problems?

 Detailed assessments will be conducted alongside long-term storage of biological samples in
 1,000 pregnant women and more than 5,000 children and their families.
-  The LIFE Child study is part of LIFE, a life sciences research program of the University
 of Leipzig (Leipzig Research Centre for Civilization Diseases - LIFE). The measurements
 are performed in a well-equipped research centre located on the premises of the
 University Hospital of Leipzig.

 -  The study collects detailed information from clinical examinations, questionnaires and
 interviews and includes a collection of several types of biological materials at various
 time points (urine, stool, hair, blood for direct analyses, genomic DNA, dried blood
 spots, paxgenes (for RNA isolation and expression/eQTL studies). Children and
 adolescents from 0 to 20 years at baseline and their families are included. Participants
 are followed annually over a period of several years irrespective of the age at the
 first participation in the study until they reach the age of 20.

 -  Prenatal examinations are conducted in the 24th and 36th week of gestation and postnatal
 examinations in the 3rd, 6th and 12th month in the offspring. The birth cohort study
 collects detailed information from clinical examinations, questionnaires and interviews
 and biological materials (blood, cord blood, placental tissue, breast milk, hair, urine
 and stool)

 -  In addition, the LIFE Child study focuses in the disease cohort LIFE Child OBESITY and
 disease free controls in more detail. The aim of these subgroups is to examine
 aetiological associations and comorbidities with more in-depth methods.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  children with their families and pregnant women of the area of Leipzig

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  severe diseases