Although much useful data can be obtained from a birth cohort study, there are several challenges to be faced when conducting such a study. One of these is the cost. Performing “open-ended” studies that may proceed for many years can be financially draining, said Dr. Tamburlini, who noted that sponsors often like to see results much faster than they can be obtained.
“One of the clear lessons is that the potential of birth cohort studies for scientific output can be maximized by collaboration between studies,” Dr. Tamburlini said. Not only does this mean shared costs, but also that data could be compared to achieve results faster.
The sharing of data may just be an ideal at the current time, as it depends on data being collected and documented in a similar, standardized way in all studies, but initiatives to improve data sharing are underway.
One such initiative is Birthcohorts.net, which aims to act as an inventory of all birth cohort studies performed around the globe. For inclusion in the database, studies need to include at least 250 children, involve the collection of biological specimens from the child and/or parents, and obtain information on parental exposures during pregnancy. Data from the cohort also need to be accessible for research collaboration, at least in theory.
Through collaborations and “more uniform data collection,” the results of birth cohort studies open up the possibility of pooling data, Dr. Tamburlini said. This means much greater power to detect how childhood diseases develop and “the impact of early exposures on children at risk.”
Dr. Tamburlini, Dr. Keil, Dr. Bergström, and Dr. Custovic did not report any conflicts of interest.