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Available Data & Biological Samples

ORIGINS is collecting data from multiple sources from the mother, infant and partner at multiple timepoints from gestation through to five years of age.

ORIGINS is undertaking deep sampling within our 10,000 participant cohort to build one of the largest repositories of biological and lifestyle data in Australia. 

Our Databank and Biobank are receiving national and international interest from researchers requesting to access information for a range of observational and interventional projects that benefit the health and wellbeing of families.

Data drives discovery

From 2017 to 2024, pregnant mothers and their partners were recruited with informed consent to collect detailed environmental and psychosocial data using questionnaires, medical records, diagnostic tools, and biological samples. 

The data forms the ORIGINS research enabling platform, which is available to researchers to assess how these early life exposures influence children's health, wellbeing, and development of chronic disease, including but not limited to neurodevelopmental disorders, allergies, obesity, and poor mental health. 

ORIGINS consists of two participant groups: 

  • 4,000 active participants - undertake deep biological and data sampling at specific timepoints, alongside data linkage 
  • 6,000 routine participants - includes all routinely collected hospital data, opportunistic samples, and some linkage to government and non-government database 

Please note, cohort compliance with sample and data collection protocol is not guaranteed and the volume of available data does not directly correlate with participant numbers. Please contact the ORIGINS Research and Translation team for information on availability of data and samples suitable to your research.

Got a great idea for a sub-project? Learn about how to get your sub-project approved and off the ground here. 

ORIGINS

Biobank

The ORIGINS Biobank currently contains approximately 450,000+ biological samples and this is expected to grow to 750,000 individual samples by 2027.

Research involving human genetic information analysed in conjunction with other personal or health data has become increasingly important for understanding risk factors underlying complex diseases. Such research is critical to improvements in detection, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cures.

To support this research, great emphasis has been placed on the establishment of resources comprised of data, biological samples and information derived from the analysis of those samples.

The Kids Research Institute Australia, internationally recognised for research excellence in maternal and child health, is the custodian of the ORIGINS Biobank and is responsible for its management. If ORIGINS ceases, the biobank will remain with the Institute to ensure the biobank continues to be available for researchers.

The ORIGINS Biobank sponsor is Western Diagnostic Pathology (WDP). WDP staff process the majority of the ORIGINS biological samples at the WDP state laboratory. The remainder of the biological samples are processed at The Kids Research Institute Australia within the Perth Children’s Hospital. The ORIGINS biobank will be stored long-term at this site, as well as on the premises of a The Kids Research Institute Australia subsite in Subiaco.

Researchers may request to access biological samples for the purpose of laboratory analysis and/or for genetic studies. The Executive will approve physical release of biological samples to researchers who have completed the Sub-Project Initiation and Approval Process, justifying the use of the biological samples.

Prior to receipt of the biological samples, researchers must complete a Release of Biological Information form and Material Transfer Agreement. 

  ANTENATAL
 POSTNATAL
 CHILDHOOD
  20 weeks 36 weeks Birth 2 months 4 months 6 months 1 year 3 years 5 years 8 years
Blood M, P M         C C C M, C
Urine M M   M, C M, C** M, C C C C M,C
Buccal swab M, P M P       M, C C C  
Saliva M, P M P       M, C C C  
Stool M M   M, C M, C** M, C C C C  
House dust   M         M M M  
Meconium     C              
Cord blood     C              
Placenta     C              
Colostrum     M              
Breastmilk       M M** M M      
Hair  P M         M, P      
BIOLOGICAL DATA COLLECTED
PEA POD                C C  
BOD POD             C C C C
TEWL             C C C  
Skin prick test             C C C  
Eczema assessments             C C C  
Anthropometry             C C C C
Developmental review             C C C C
Developmental assessment**             C C   C

M = Mother | P = Partner/Father | C = Child/Infant | ** For 10 to 15% of Active Participants 

ORIGINS

Databank

ORIGINS is creating a comprehensive databank for 10,000 children and their families ranging from pregnancy to eight years of age.

Using new science and technologies, the project will collect and analyse the data to answer a range of critical research questions. 

A critical element of data management is the ability to link the data sets. The potential richness of information from the curation of this comprehensive, longitudinal databank collection is immense.

ORIGINS Data Sources

ORIGINS collects participant data from online systems, clinic assessments, as well as via existing routinely collected data through Joondalup Health Campus and health service providers.

Data is collected across a range of research domains;

  • Lifestyle
  • Diet and nutrition
  • Sleep
  • Environment and neighbourhood
  • Child health and development
  • Demographics and social characteristics
  • Medical history
  • Skin and sun exposure
  • Physical activity
  • Mental health and wellbeing

All data is linked through unique identifiers in order to track individual participants as well as family units.

We anticipate that any data derived from samples (‘omics data such as metabolomics, transcriptomics, proteomics) and microbiome analyses will be available as part of the ORIGINS data portal. This work is currently under development.

Contact the Research Translation team to find out about the cost of accessing ORIGINS data and samples.

  ANTENATAL
 POSTNATAL
 CHILDHOOD
  20 weeks 36 weeks Birth 2 months 4 months 6 months 9 months 1 year 1.5 years 2 years 2.5 years 3 years 4 years 5 years 6 years 7 years 8 years
ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS 
ORIGINS (online & REDCAP)  M M   M, C   M, C   M, C M, C M, C   M, C M, C M, C M, C M, C M, C
Ages & Stages questionnaire*         C   C C C C C C C C     C
Australian Eating survey* M M       M   M       M          
Early Conners*                       C          
JHC health questionnaires (paper)  M                                
JHC antenatal (Genie)  M M                              
JHC birth & postnatal (Meditech)      M, C                            
JHC Special Care Nursery (database)      C                            
ROUTINE PARTICIPANTS
JHC health questionnaires (paper) M                                
JHC antenatal (Genie)  M M                              
JHC birth & postnatal (Meditech)                                  
JHC Special Care Nursery (database)      M, C                            
ORIGINS health survey     C                           M

M = Mother | C = Child/Infant | *Standardised questionnaires