Members of the Czech cohort of the unique ELSPAC study, which followed the health of individuals across Europe for over 20 years, have been contributing to follow-up research since March. The parents of the ELSPAC children, and later the young people themselves, filled in a series of questionnaires that provided a great deal of valuable information. RECETOX is aiming to correlate the ELSPAC data with new research through its Young Adults study.
The RECETOX Young Adults study is looking for early warning signs of diseases whose causes are currently unknown. Through the study, data from clinical examinations and biological samples from follow-up contacts will add new insights and additional depth to the existing medical literature. Most studies of this kind up till now have focused either on early child development or on older adults; so far, the young adult population has been under-researched.
The new study is not just about questionnaires. The researchers are also able to check the participants‘ body composition, lung capacity, foot function and much more. Samples of blood, urine and saliva help the scientists to build a rounded picture of participants‘ health and will inform research for years to come.
The Young Adults study takes place at the Faculty of Sports Studies. It just takes a single morning for the researchers to carry out all of the painless, straightforward examinations and ask their questions.
The RECETOX researchers are most keen to contact members of the original Czech ELSPAC cohort (children born in Brno and Znojmo between March 1991 and June 1992), but the study is also open to the ELSPAC cohort’s siblings, partners and other young adults born in the same years or cities.
But, there’s no need to despair, even if you don’t fall into the categories mentioned above. As part of Brno Health Days 2019, the project will be holding an Open Day in the examination rooms on 23rd September. Visitors will be able to go through the same procedure as the study participants.
More about the event itself and how to apply here.
On September 2, TTO MUNI announced a call for projects in the Proof of Concept phase. The call is focused on verification of applied research results in terms of their practical application and preparation of their subsequent commercial use or use for the needs of society.
In this interview with Jan Šmarda, conducted on August 17, on the occasion of the missed birthday of the biologist Jana Šmardová, you will learn about a new website dedicated to Jana’s book and about his translation, teaching and popularisation activities in the field of disease biology.
