Government Social Research
2/2/2006: Launch of Generation Scotland, an ambitious and ground-breaking project which will follow the health of 50,000 Scots family members over the next generation.
The project will be conducted in full and close collaboration with the NHS in Scotland. Recruitment will start in Tayside and Glasgow, expanding to the rest of Scotland.
Families are being invited to help the Generation Scotland team explore not only the inherited nature of some diseases, but also look at how lifestyle, diet and environment influence the development of conditions like heart disease, dementia, cancer, diabetes and other common diseases.
The findings will help identify those at high risk of developing genetic conditions, and allow early treatments with new drugs designed to combat such diseases. The genetic information will also help adapt prescription drugs to individual needs.
The first wave of volunteers to the study, those aged 35-55 and their family members, are being recruited through general practitioners, and will provide confidentially and anonymous stored biological samples and medical information for the databank. Importantly, Generation Scotland has launched a programme of consultation to gain feedback and opinions from members of the public about the research and how it is conducted, and this programme will run through the course of the project.
For further information visit the generation scotland website.