The Wuhan Healthy Baby Cohort (WHBC) is a prospective cohort study from fetal life until adulthood. The study is designed to identify early environmental and genetic causes and causal pathways leading to normal and abnormal growth, development and health from fetal life, childhood and young adulthood. This multidisciplinary study focuses on several health outcomes including pregnant complications, adverse neonatal birth outcomes, child behavior and neuro-cognition, body composition, growth, hearing, heart and vascular development, infectious disease and immunity, respiratory health, allergy and skin disorders of children and their parents. Main exposures of interest include environmental, endocrine, genomic (genetic, epigenetic, microbiome), lifestyle related, nutritional and socio-demographic determinants.
Enrollment and Participant Base
Fall 2012 WHBC recruited the first pair of mother-newborn when the mother gave birth to the baby at the study hospital - Wuhan Children’s Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, which is in charge of health management of women and children all over Wuhan. There were 11311 pairs of mother-newborns joined in WHBC by the end of Sep 2014. Started from Oct 2014, WHBC recruited pregnant women at their early pregnancy - with less than 16 weeks of gestation. Approximately 10,161 pregnant women and their husband joined in WHBC by the end ofOct 2019. The above two phase of recruitment resulted in a large-scale prospective cohort with over 20,000 pairs of mother-child, offering a rich dataset for comprehensive health and development studies. Our response rate at baseline reachedan impressive level of 95%, and we have maintained a robust follow-up rate of around 80% among children up to the age of 3 years. Additionally, we also conducted a more detailed follow-up study on children aged 5-7 years and their mothers, in order to understand the association between endogenous and exogenous exposure factors in early life and long-term health and disease outcomesrisk.
Research Outputs and Impact
The WHBC Study has been a catalyst for significant scientific contributions, with over 200original research papers published by the end of 2024. These papers have been featured in high-impact journals such as The Lancet Planet Health, Circ Res, Environ Health Prospect, Environ Int, and BMC Med, among others. The research has garnered attention and recognition in the global scientific community, reflecting the WHBC’s commitment to excellence in research. Additionally, the WHBC has successfully secured over 25 research grants from the National Science Foundation of China, with a total funding exceeding 3 million USD, underscoring the importance and relevance of our work.
Guidelines for Data Sharing within Research Collaborations
The Wuhan Healthy Baby Cohort (WHBC) is dedicated to the advancement of scientific knowledge in maternal and child health through a structured and professional approach to data sharing. We are committed to ensuring that our data sharing practices are conducted with the utmost professionalism and in line with ethical standards. Below are the principles that guide our collaborative research endeavors:
1. Adherence to Legal Standards: All data sharing and research activities are strictly in compliance with the legal and regulatory framework of the People's Republic of China.
2. Collaborative Projects with Approval: Data sharing is conducted within the context of collaborative projects that have been approved by the Wuhan Children’s hospital's Ethics Committee.
3. Dedication to Medical Research: Data is allocated solely for the purpose of medical and health-related research and is not utilized for any commercial interests.
4. Prioritizing Scholarly Collaborations: We prioritize collaborations that enhance the quality of research, especially those led by Chinese scholars, to foster academic excellence.
5. Avoiding Conflicts with Existing Projects: Data sharing is carefully managed to ensure it does not conflict with the WHBC's ongoing or planned research initiatives.
6. Formal Agreements for Data Access: Access to data is granted following a formal application process and the signing of collaboration, confidentiality, and data use agreements.
7. Ethical Data Management: Applicants must adhere to ethical principles, ensuring that shared data is de-identified and maintained in a manner that respects participant privacy.
8. Ensuring Data Security: Data applicants and users are responsible for safeguarding the data against any breaches that could compromise national security or public interests.
9. Upholding Scientific Integrity: Data users are expected to adhere to scientific ethics, comply with international and national research standards, and maintain the integrity of research.
10. Data Custodianship and Control: As the custodians of the data, Wuhan Children’s hospital retains ownership and exercises control over the distribution and application of shared data.
11. Acknowledgment in Scholarly Works: Any publications utilizing shared data must acknowledge the WHBC and Wuhan Children’s hospital as the source of the data.
12. Data Repatriation Policy: Researchers are required to return the compiled database, including any derived variables and descriptions, to the WHBC upon the conclusion of their research project for potential redistribution to other approved researchers.
Email: WHBC@zgwhfe.com
Contact address: No. 100 Hong Kong Road, Wuhan Children’s Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430015, Hubei, P.R. China