Chair named for UK's biggest birth study

In March, the Government announced the £33.5m research project, which will follow the lives of children and their families from pregnancy to the early years.

The health and wellbeing study is five times larger than any other previous birth cohort studies.

It will track the growth, development, health, wellbeing and social circumstances of 90,000 babies born in the UK and their families.

Recruitment for families to take part will start in 2013.

Professor Finch is a leading social scientist, currently professor of sociology at Manchester University and a former vice chancellor at Keele University.

The initial appointment runs from October 2011 to September 2014 but may be renewed for a further three years.

The birth cohort study is being carried out by University College London on behalf of the Economic and Social Research Council and the Medical Research Council.

Professor Paul Boyle, chief executive of ESRC said, ‘I am pleased to welcome Professor Dame Finch as the chair of the new Birth Cohort study governing board. With Professor Finch’s exceptional academic credentials and interdisciplinary experience, this appointment will further strengthen the opportunities for this ground breaking study to have an impact on the quality of life within the UK.’

Sir John Savill, chief executive of the MRC, added, ‘I am delighted that Professor Dame Finch has accepted this important position.Large cohort studies are a vital resource for providing a life course perspective on human health, and I have no doubt that Professor Finch’s contribution to this endeavour will be invaluable.’

The new Birth Cohort project is funded by a grant of £24.25m from the Department of Business Innovation and Skills and a further £4.25m from the ESRC and MRC for the study, with an extra £5m for a new resource cohort facility.

The study is being led by Professor Carol Dezateux, director of the MRC Centre of Epidemiology for Child Health at the Institute of Child Health, at UCL.