How is GenV different to other research projects?

Our ability to address the growing challenges of complex health and development problems using conventional approaches of research and problem-solving is failing to progress at the rate we need.

Most research projects take place in isolation from one another, are time intensive for participants, and can be expensive with little returns or translation of findings.

It can take many years before information from research projects is analysed and outputs are implemented.

GenV is an inclusive state-wide initiative: a complete snapshot of our community

As a result of limited resources, many research projects lack a diverse population. This can occur due to the exclusion of families from non-English speaking backgrounds, or the exclusion of families living in rural and regional areas.

Many research projects study conditions separately, or separate clinical from community cohorts. This makes little sense in an increasingly complex and interconnected world and gives us an incomplete picture.

Recruiting across the entire state of Victoria, GenV aims to involve families from all walks of life. This includes:

• all ethnic backgrounds
• all lifestyles, and
• all levels of health and ability.

Every family matters, everywhere

Family and parental health are crucial aspects in the life of a child.

Other paediatric research projects generally focus on children but miss crucial information from their parents.

GenV aims to collect data from the child participants—as well as their parents or guardians—to build parallel birth and parent cohorts, filling in the current gaps in research.

Leveraging Victoria’s existing infrastructure and processes, most of the data and samples collected on the GenV cohort will be from existing records and services. Learn more about the type of data GenV collects.

With additional samples taken with consent at recruitment, and minimal check-ins for crucial information that is not routinely collected, GenV will be low burden for families and our supporting and partner organisations while simultaneously building a complete picture of family health and development.

Precision health, case-cohort comparisons, and long-term outcomes

The scale and inclusivity of GenV will not only give studies utilising GenV data much greater clarity, but greater opportunities beyond small research being multiplied.

From within a cohort the size of GenV, we can drill down to assess the overlap and comorbidity in any subgroups for precision health; access case-control and case-cohort comparisons; and capture long-term outcomes that are out of reach for most registries.

GenV builds on this with a focus on solutions through knowledge translation and implementation.

Through partnerships with practitioners, policy-makers, researchers and service providers, evaluation and research can more readily inform practice, policies and resourcing.

Ultimately, embedding research into usual practice across Victoria and beyond will transform how we solve some of our biggest challenges in child and family health and wellbeing.