Insights from the Raine Study

Professor Romola Bucks, Director Raine Study and UWA's Pro Vice-Chancellor Health and Medical Research discusses with Associate Professor Rebecca Glauert, Scientific Director of the Raine Study and volunteer participants Alison and Tara, what has been learned from the world’s first pregnancy study and the world’s longest running prospective longitudinal study and the contributors who have enabled this.
Three decades of life changing Raine Study research has led to findings across numerous areas of health and wellbeing for local and global communities. Valuable data on topics including genetics, diet, mental health and cognition, sleep and activity, cardiometabolic, musculoskeletal and more, has influenced policy and practise for over 30 years.
Thanks to the Raine Study, we now know that ultrasounds are safe in pregnancy, that the longer-term health outcome of children conceived using IVF are no different to the general population, children with better sleep patterns have better mental health in later life, Vitamin D is good for eye health, sleep apnoea and irregular sleep patterns are linked to hypertension, plus a multitude of other findings. Most recently, the World Health Organisation updated their guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour based on Raine Study data.
And now, the Raine Study is recruiting a third generation (Gen3), offering a unique opportunity which throws light on the nature and role of intergenerational transmission underlying some of society’s major chronic health issues. By having a greater understanding of these issues, clinicians can put in place measures to reduce or avoid risk of ill-health.