Born in Bradford: Age of Wonder

Adolescence and transition into adulthood are periods shaping life-long mental health, cardiometabolic risk, and inequalities. However, they are poorly studied and understood.

By extending and expanding the Born in Bradford (BiB) cohort study through this period using innovative, co-produced approaches to collect and analyse data, we aim to understand better the interplay of factors that influence health and wellbeing, and inform/evaluate interventions to improve them and reduce inequalities.

Age of Wonder will be the only large whole city cohort capable of capturing the contemporary lived experience amongst multi-ethnic adolescents progressing into young adulthood, linked to their earlier life.

It will build on a world-leading birth cohort situated the 5th largest metropolitan district in England with high levels of deprivation, ethnic diversity, supported by a connected routine data infrastructure covering 600,000 citizens. We will collect repeated data from existing BiB participants and their peers (N~30,000).

In-school assessments, clinical assessments plus online data collection and electronic linkage will capture information on mental, reproductive, sexual, neurocognitive and cardiometabolic health. Remote collection will continue to age 21. Repeat qualitative interviews and ethnographic observations will explore lived experiences.

We will collaborate internationally to broad-ranging research and discovery science and promote rapid application to policy/practice.