NIHRDataInsights/HRCSData huggingface dataset:
Title: Tracking the health, educational and economic impact of gestational age at birth: a longitudinal record linkage study (TIGAR)
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: Background Preterm birth (PTB) is a major cause of long term loss of human potential. Survivors of PTB, even those born a few weeks early, have an increased risk of health and neurodevelopmental problems in childhood and adulthood. Studies of long term outcomes following PTB need to be based on large numbers. There have been several large studies of the long term effects of PTB, but their findings may not be generalisable to the current UK population. There is a need for a large UK study to assess the health, educational and economic outcomes, across the whole gestational age spectrum, in a population-based cohort of babies born in the 21st century. Aims and objectives Our study will create a longitudinal record linkage study and use it to estimate: the effect of gestational age on health and educational outcomes up to 11 years of age; the trajectories of these outcomes in different gestational age-groups; whether these effects vary according to markers of social deprivation; and the costs to health and education services. Methods We will create a national population-based cohort of all live births in England during 2005-2006 (~1 million) with follow-up of children through record linkage of several routine datasets (Hospital Episodes Statistics and the National Pupil Database). The study will include a wide range of health (e.g. all-cause and cause-specific hospital episodes) and educational outcomes which are directly relevant to UK health and education systems. The educational data include not only academic performance (which is an important marker of lifelong attainment and future health), but also the presence and type of special educational need, and what support is given, during the child's primary schooling (age 4-5, 6-7 and 10-11). Our results will inform the parents and health/educational professionals who care for children born before full-term, and the organisations who plan or deliver services in hospital, schools or the community.


Research activity codes: 2.4 SURVEILLANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: META-DAC - Managing Ethico-social and Technical issues and Administration of Data Access Committee
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: In a world where rapid technological progress and an ageing population place ever increasing demands on medical and social care, one of our most potent weapons is the translation into societal benefit of scientific resources embodied in longitudinal cohorts studies and biobanks. Complex decisions about data access are not simply ethical or technical; they go to the heart of the politics of scientific research. Effectively managing extensive and complex data and biosamples requires active and innovative governance and technical oversight of access to data and biosamples. The METADAC (Managing Ethico-social, Technical issues and Administration Data Access Committee) is a multi-agency multi-study data access structure which will service several of the UK's major cohort studies (1958BC, 1970BC, Millennium BC and Understanding Society) and to provide a scalable mechanism to incorporate additional cohorts in the future (eg. ELSA). The META-DAC will develop, implement and maintain all administrative and technical activities plus policies needed to realise an access mechanism that is fit for purpose given the complex biomedical/social data and samples in question: its primary aim to optimise the use of the scientific resources under its governance. The METADAC is committed to a streamlined, proportionate and responsive form of governance which maintains full regard to the consents and expectations of the study participants who provided the research materials.


Research activity codes: 2.6 RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE (AETIOLOGY)
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: Health and Well-Being in Later Life: Measurement, Predictions, and Interventions
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: The aim of this Fellowship is to apply sophisticated econometric techniques to UK longitudinal data to develop the measurement, prediction and improvement of the health and well-being (H&WB) of older people. The objectives are to answer the following research questions: 1) What causes the marked differences between self-assessed health and satisfaction with health in older age? 2) Can older individuals at higher risk of poor health and low well-being be identified earlier using observable life-event data? 3) Are community assets an alternative to formal health and social care services in improving the health and well-being of the older population? Methodology: Study 1) will utilise techniques more commonly associated with macroeconometrics to analyse impulse response functions. These functions provide information on the dynamic relationships of key variables after the onset of given shocks. Study 1) will additionally utilise anchoring techniques associated with the reporting of vignette health states. Study 2) will employ dynamic random- and fixed-effects econometric models to longitudinal data that track individuals as they age. Particular attention will be given to i) attrition and ii) endogeneity and reverse causation. To overcome i) we correct for panel attrition, whereas for ii) we will consider sources of exogenous variation (e.g. large scale plant closures). Study 3) will apply non-experimental policy evaluation methods (e.g. difference-in-difference with and without continuous treatment) to unique data. We can measure the effects of treatment and distance to treatment centres by employing spatial econometric techniques. Scientific and medical opportunities: The scientific opportunity is the novel application of advanced econometric techniques and the exploitation of existing and novel secondary data. The medical opportunity is the improvement of the H&WB of older people and reductions in associated health and social care costs.


Research activity codes: 1.2 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC PROCESSES;1.4 METHODOLOGIES AND MEASUREMENTS;7.1 INDIVIDUAL CARE NEEDS
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: Born in Bradford 2nd Wave
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: This proposal is for a cohort-wide data collection sweep of Born in Bradford (BiB), a prospective pregnancy/birth cohort established to examine how genetic, nutritional, environmental, behavioural and social factors affect health and development during childhood and into adult life, in a deprived multi-ethnic population. We will conduct a full clinic and interview sweep of at least 9,000 BiB children at age 7-10 years (plus school-based neurocognitive assessments) and their parents (8,500 mothers and 5,000 fathers/partners). These newly collected data will be linked with all existing data and provide the first comprehensive follow up of BiB families since recruitment. Our objectives are to investigate: (1) the determinants of child social and emotional wellbeing at age 7-10; (2) the determinants of child cognitive and motor development in childhood; (3) the determinants of healthy growth in children and of adiposity and cardiometabolic health in children and adults. School-based child assessments will include cognitive assessments, a wellbeing questionnaire, and teacher-administered Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Community-based family assessments will include parent questionnaires and physical assessments, parent-administered SDQ, child diet and activity questionnaires and physical assessments. Multivariable regression analyses will be used to address study objectives. Anonymized data will be made widely available to academics, creating an international resource for exploring life course determinants of health, development and social wellbeing in a deprived multi-ethnic population.


Research activity codes: 2.4 SURVEILLANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: EPICure2@11 - Outcome at 11 years for a national cohort of births between 22 and 26 weeks of gestation in England in 2006
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: This programme of research will evaluate different aspects of outcome following birth before 27 week of gestation for a national cohort of births in England in 2006 at 11 years of age (EPICure2). Over 1000 survivors have been identified and traced using their family doctors. The study will provide novel explanatory information about the nature of the defects in this population, allow investigation of the relationships with perinatal events and comparison with births in 1995 and determine the predictive accuracy of previous findings carried out at 3 years of age. We will carry out a two level investigation: 1. Whole population using the Department for Education National Pupil Database to provide anonymised data on scholastic achievement and special needs. In another study we have obtained information covering 97% of 6295 children in the ORACLE Children Study. This will provide us with outcome by gestational age, birthright, sex and neonatal network in a unique analysis. This will allow a maximum follow up rate as all schools are included in the Key Stage 2 assessments, which are reported as continuous measures alongside 2. A sample of survivors in the East Midlands (n~170 survivors) and North London (n~170 survivors; Sample 1) utilising a school based assessment of educational, behavioural and cognitive function alongside randomly selected comparison children from their peer group. Alongside this we will carry out respiratory function testing, cardiovascular assessment and CP Exercise testing to provide a measure of their somatic impairment as they enter adolescence. This application helps to develop an already productive multidisciplinary partnership between neonatal medicine, psychology, cardiorespiratory medicine, and neuroscience to provide a state-of-the-art study to inform clinicians, parents and scientists of the effects of birth 22-26 weeks of gestation on pre-adolescent outcome


Research activity codes: 2.4 SURVEILLANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: Biomedical follow-up of 1958 Birth Cohort Study members at age 60
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: This application proposes an ambitious programme of work to inform key public health concerns among generations now transitioning between midlife and early older age, a critical time when major chronic disease events and other health concerns of older age accumulate. Our work conceptualizes healthy ageing within a life-course framework in which we investigate the socioeconomic, biological, and psychological determinants of healthy ageing over a lifetime and their contribution to transitions in health outcomes measured objectively from midlife (44/45 years) to early older age (60 years). Our approach incorporates multiple interrelated dimensions of health and encompasses flexibly the mechanisms through which such exposures operate. Within such a framework, a set of interrelated hypotheses are set out concerning cardiometabolic health, physical function, cognitive decline, and biological ageing. These scientific aims will be achieved through a major biomedical enhancement of the 1958 Birth Cohort Study, through collection of data on 9,600 study members when they reach 60 years of age. Proposed domains of data for collection include physical measurements (height, weight, body-fat, waist and hip circumference); physical functioning (grip strength, balance, chair rises, gait speed); blood pressure, pulse rate; the effect of static and dynamic exercise on blood pressure; the collection and storage of whole bloods; cognitive assessments (memory, processing speed, executive function). Data will be deposited with the UK Data Service for the widest possible use by bona fide researchers after collection and data cleaning, under exemplary access arrangements, and alongside a strong communications campaign to raise awareness of the new data.


Research activity codes: 2.4 SURVEILLANCE AND DISTRIBUTION;2.6 RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE (AETIOLOGY)
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: Integrated Health, education and environmental (HEE) intervention to optimise infant feeding practices through schools and Anganwadi networks in India
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: India faces a triple burden of childhood malnutrition; 48% under-five's are stunted, 70% anaemic and 15% obese. Malnutrition affects physical growth, and brain development and contributes to India's burden of communicable and NCD's. The Government of India has been implementing key nutritional interventions via three cadres of frontline workers; yet multi-sectoral approaches that address broader determinants of nutrition, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, and social inequities remain crucial. This inter-disciplinary study explores the Health-Education-Environment (HEE) factors that influence young children's (6-24 months) feeding practices, across priority areas identified by local panchayats, NGOs and government stakeholders. Our collaboration includes an interdisciplinary UCL team from Institute of Child Health, Institute of Education and Faculty of Engineering Sciences and expertise from Save the Children- India, The Indian Institute of Technology (Delhi) and Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. A socio-ecological framework will structure mixed-methods data collection at individual, household and community levels during an iterative participatory process. Our participatory methodology includes partnerships with local 'Community Champions', Anganwadi Centres and establishing 'community education and innovation hubs' with participating schools. The British India diaspora, being an important source of knowledge, will make up the UK PPI panel and participate from study design to dissemination. In the final phase all partners including the community will come together to develop a tailored socio-culturally appropriate HEE package that actively integrates existing government initiatives and test acceptability of the intervention for future scalability. Results will be disseminated via workshops and through 'community hubs' to government representatives, technical experts, program managers, and NGO, civil society and community representatives.


Research activity codes: 2.3 PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS;3.1 PRIMARY PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS TO MODIFY BEHAVIOURS OR PROMOTE WELL-BEING;3.3 NUTRITION AND CHEMOPREVENTION
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: Surveys for Urban Equity: getting, and using, the data needed to respond to neglected non-communicable diseases in urban areas in LMICs
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: Rapid urbanisation is driving the NCD epidemic in S Asia. For decision-makers to respond to NCDs among the urban poor, proper measurement of disease prevalence and risk factors is a crucial first step. In over 90 LMICs, household surveys - e.g. DHS and STEPS - provide vital data to inform the health sector nationally. However, the way these surveys are currently designed and presented undermines their use to plan and monitor intra-urban health and respond to the needs of the poor. Data on mental ill-health and injuries - NCDs experienced disproportionately by the urban poor - are not collected; the urban poor are under-represented in sampling frames; and methodologies for calculating wealth quintiles and definitions of a household are not sensitive to urban poverty. We will use existing validated questionnaires, and our own work assessing injury and mental health, to develop a questionnaire on NCD risk factors, injury and mental ill-health relevant to urban areas. We will use qualitative methods in urban slums to explore household types and indicators of wealth, and test the questionnaire. We will test the feasibility, cost and appropriateness of novel sampling methods using (a) satellite imagery, mobile phone and census data to identify the entire urban population including those not captured by the census, and (b) gridded sampling to select areas. Once sampled, we will use a web-based app to accurately map sampled areas. In Kathmandu, we will sample 1200 households to see the extent to which our approach identifies the urban poor, and to estimate key indicators with a maximum margin of error of +/- 4.27% at 95% confidence. Smaller feasibility studies of the methods and questionnaire will be conducted in Hanoi and Dhaka. Throughout we will work closely with governments to understand data needs and co-produce appropriate data visualisation tools to enable use of data generated for equitable planning and monitoring in urban areas.


Research activity codes: 2.3 PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: Improving the primary health care response to violence against women in low and middle income countries
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: Violence against women (VAW) is widely recognized as an obstacle to reaching the newly agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 related to gender equality and empowerment of women. It is a violation of human rights and threatens the status, health and well-being of women. The proposed collaborative project aims to understand how primary healthcare systems in low and middle income (LMIC) countries can develop and evaluate interventions for violence against women (VAW) that link with community services, and ultimately ensure better health outcomes for women and their children. Building on existing research collaborations with academics, health care providers and VAW services in two LMIC (Occupied Palestinian Territories and Brazil) we will conduct multidisciplinary research to: 1) Evaluate the readiness of the primary care system in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and in Brazil to integrate identification of VAW, to care for survivors and to offer referral to VAW services. Formative research will include interviews with primary health care providers, women survivors of VAW and representatives of VAW services to understand their views and preferences for a primary health care response to VAW, and use of a health systems readiness tool and observations of the study facilities will be conducted to assess their readiness to link with or integrate VAW services. 2) Adapt a UK evidence-based intervention, through engagement with key stakeholders in each country using Theory of Change to gain consensus of the causal pathways within the intervention, identify areas of uncertainty and how these should be addressed. 3) Pilot test its feasibility in primary health care (PHC) centres in Palestine and Brazil using mixed methods.


Research activity codes: 8.3 POLICY, ETHICS AND RESEARCH GOVERNANCE;5.6 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL;6.6 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: Analysing the policy and governance environment for NCD control, and identifying potential policy options.
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) represent the largest and fastest growing threat to human health, including in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) project reports that in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) NCDs are the most significant contributors to both burden of disease and causes of death. In MENA and South and Southeast Asia epidemiological transitions have seen infectious diseases becoming less burdensome over the past 20 years, and the NCDs now major killers even in the poorer countries. While the health system can play an important role in treating symptoms and complications of NCDs it has less leverage in addressing the determinants of NCDs themselves, and universal access to NCD treatment will bear a prohibitive price tag for any country - including the wealthiest ones. Effective prevention interventions are urgently needed, and rigorous evidence from WHO suggests these should be focused on addressing policy and regulatory environments for NCD risk exposure at a population level. However, governance of NCD determinants can bring public health communities into conflict with the for-profit private sector producing, for example, highly processed foods replete with salt, sugar and trans-fats. We have very little information about potential governance/policy models that are likely to be feasible, acceptable and effective in ensuring that WHO's "best buy" policy options for NCD control are implemented.


Research activity codes: 8.3 POLICY, ETHICS AND RESEARCH GOVERNANCE;3.1 PRIMARY PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS TO MODIFY BEHAVIOURS OR PROMOTE WELL-BEING;8.5 RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE (HEALTH SERVICES)
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE
Title: The Airwave Health Monitoring Study (AHMS). An Occupational Cohort Study of the British Police Forces.
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: The Airwave Health Monitoring Study (AHMS) is a long-term cohort study of the health of police officers and staff across Great Britain. With funding from Home Office (ends March 2018), it has recruited 53,280 individuals of whom 45,533 have had clinical and biological measurements collected as part of a baseline clinical assessment, with data linkage of the cohort to routine NHS records. The aim of the current proposal is to greatly augment the AHMS cohort through further face-to-face clinical follow-up in Scotland and Wales (follow-up in England is funded separately), and to provide a resource for studying how gender, lifestyle, and occupational exposures interact with genetic and metabolic factors in relation to physical and mental health. We will do this via: i) follow-up assessment at c. 7.5 years of Scottish and Welsh Airwave participants (N = 13,681) aiming for 40% participation rate based on extensive pilot studies; ii) development of a methodology for obtaining estimates of exposure to a range of chemical, physical and psychosocial risk factors that may be associated with chronic disease or reduced health and wellbeing, using a combination of estimates on group level through development of bespoke Job Exposure Matrices (JEMs), with self-reported and objective individual exposure measures (e.g. from analyses of available computerised records from the police TETRA radio system, which informs on individual shift work patterns); and iii) an exemplar case study to examine the reciprocal relationships between operational and organisational risk factors and mental health difficulties, and identify what factors promote resilience within the workplace. This proposal if funded will provide a unique resource for research on occupational health among a 'front-line' public-facing service and provide the evidence-base for interventions to improve health and well-being among the workforce.


Research activity codes: 2.3 PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE