Home\About GenV
Home About GenV

About GenV

GenV is a research initiative designed to advance health and wellbeing in smarter and faster ways.

GenV is designed to answer multiple questions about preterm birth, mental health and illness, obesity, learning, allergies and more.

GenV grew from a ‘Big Idea’: that a large whole-of-state research project could speed up answers to the major issues facing children and adults today and in the future.

GenV is open to all babies born in Victoria, Australia, and their parents over two years from mid-2021.

GenV is led from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute , supported by the Royal Children’s Hospital, and University of Melbourne,  and funded by the Paul Ramsay Foundation (PRF), the Victorian Government , and the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation,

It collaborates with universities, institutes, hospitals and services across Victoria, and seeks input from parents, communities and organisations at every step.

GenV is made possible by world-leading people and organisations

Here's a snapshot of what we've already achieved

  • 2020

    • GenV officially commenced at first hospital site

      GenV commences at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s at Sunshine Hospital in December. The program welcomed its first babies and parents to the GenV family. 

    • It will allow our world-leading researchers to break new ground and make discoveries that will improve the quality of life for Victorians in every corner of the state. Jaala Pulford Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy

    • biobank commences operations at melbourne children’s campus

      GenV’s fully automated biobank – the biggest of its type in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the world’s biggest pregnancy and childhood biobanks – commenced operating in September at the Melbourne Children’s Campus. The biobank will store many millions of samples and will transform the way samples are stored and accessed for future analysis.

  • 2019

    • Building a GenV that works for families

      In 2019 GenV conducts focus groups, an on-line parent panel, and The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Child Health ‘pilot’ Poll, working with over 500 new and expecting families over the year. The findings help improve our processes and make it easier for families to join and be a part of GenV.

    • Additional funding secured for the next phase of GenV

      In the May 2019 Victorian Government State Budget, $14m was confirmed for the GenV Cohort.

  • 2018

    • a prototype GenV data repository

      In September 2018 GenV successfully built a prototype Data Repository that included accurately and safely linking existing research datasets to existing administrative data.

    • We're so pleased to provide this support to Victoria's best and brightest medical minds, as they make the discoveries that will change the lives of young people in our state and all over the world. Daniel Andrews Victorian Premier

  • 2017

    • Key funding partnership announced with the Paul Ramsay Foundation

      In May 2017 the Paul Ramsay Foundation announced foundation funding of $24.5 million to make GenV a reality. Find out about GenV’s partners.

    • We're partnering with GenV to give future researchers a platform and the infrastructure they need to base their research. This means studies will be completed faster and with less cost, translating to better preventions and treatments for all Australians. Simon Freeman Former PRF CEO

    • Victorian Government supports the initial rollout of GenV

      In June 2017, the Victorian Government provided $2m in seed funding to develop the GenV Cohort.

    • Our big hope is that ultimately we are able to drive better solutions for prevention, prediction and treatment for the problems kids have now, and the diseases they will have as adults. Over 80 to 100 years, this will be an incredibly important resource for understanding how people age best. Professor Melissa Wake GenV Scientific Director

    • GenV officially launched

      In December 2017, Victorian Minister for Health Jill Hennessy launched GenV with PRF CEO Simon Freeman and MCRI CEO Kathryn North.

    • Victoria is a prime location for the project because of its world-renowned medical research facilities and universities. Our focus is on studies like GenV that emphasise prevention as well as treatment to ensure better outcomes for Victorians. Jill Hennessy MP Former Victorian Minister for Health

  • 2016

    • Incubator workshops conducted

      GenV held incubator workshops with clinicians and researchers identified focus areas and important scientific questions for GenV to address. Over 80 Clinicians and researchers shaped GenV through its working groups.

  • 2015

    • Engagement with maternity services

      Initial engagement with clinical staff and researchers at Monash Health, the Royal Women’s Hospital, Sunshine Hospital and Mercy Health. People from these organisations have helped shape GenV and its processes.

    • GenV recruitment pilot

      This pilot showed the feasibility of recruitment and consent processes adjacent to the Victorian Infant Hearing Screening Program (VIHSP) at the Royal Women’s Hospital. Results indicate that the GenV recruitment process was feasible, successful and was very little burden on parents and clinical services.

  • 2014

    • Family focus groups conducted

      This ethics engagement study asked expectant and new parent’s views on GenV and participating in a longer study. Participants felt the ongoing linkage of data and biosamples collected from themselves and their children was important and they would be willing for their children to participate.

    • Biospecimen pilots completed

      Consent was collected to access existing universal biological pregnancy samples (1st and second trimester screening samples) for use in research. Over 90% of parents consented showing a high level of acceptability.

    • Melbourne Children’s Trials Centre launched

      The centre is the largest paediatric trials centre in Australia. It ensures quality, efficiency and innovation in our trials and is supporting the development of new interventions in GenV to prevent, diagnose and treat childhood diseases.

  • 2013

    • International benchmarking and expert review

      A team of researchers studied similar research projects from around the world to ensure we adopt best practice from the very beginning. A group of international experts from the Denmark, France, Norway, United Kingdom and Australia from similar initiatives reviewed GenV’s approach (then known as the ‘Big Idea’). The committee endorsed GenV as scientifically important, feasible, and unique and would greatly add to our understanding of child health and development’

    • Data linkage studies

      MCRI studies successfully completed consented data linkage to a range of government and clinical datasets. These demonstrate the feasibility of GenV’s consented data linkage approach and the high level of consent from families for this to occur.

    • Melbourne Children’s Campus LifeCourse program developed

      LifeCourse includes over 40 separate clinical and population-based longitudinal studies including over 50,000 participants. The vision of LifeCourse is to maximise the value of these studies to inform better outcomes for children and adolescents across the continuum of care. The learnings from LifeCourse studies are driving the approach and research in GenV.

    • Melbourne Children’s Bioresource Centre launched

      This state-of-the-art centralized biosample processing and storage facility uses international best practice to safely and securely store biosamples. With GenV it will become Australia’s largest automated biobank.