Reproduction, Development and Child Health
Our research increases understanding of key early life events influencing life-course health and well-being.
Our mission is to maximise life-course health and wellbeing for all through research into early life events and related interventions.
We aim to identify important early life factors that drive life-course health and morbidity. Our work ranges from biological to behavioural and social factors, and our particular strength are studies that integrate factors across these domains to a holistic biopsychosocial inquiry.
We are developing novel, effective therapeutic and population interventions to target these factors.
We want to advance health technologies and infrastructure to capture and use early life routine data in research and innovation.
Research areas
Our research extends from preconception and reproduction to pregnancy, fetal development, childhood and early adulthood. We integrate methods and expertise from basic and life sciences, clinical and translational sciences, and population health. We enjoy pipelines for donations of gametes and embryos, and host unique population cohorts and databases.
Biology of Reproduction
We investigate the biological processes and mechanisms related to the development of a new individual. From fertility to conception, embryo, fetus and the baby. For example, our research investigates the genetic material an embryo inherits from its parents and the mutational mechanisms underlying genetic disorders. This encompasses studying the molecular, cellular, tissue and organ remodelling events that occur in the mother and fetus during pregnancy. Our research also seeks to increase understanding of key factors influencing post-pregnancy (neonatal and maternal) lifecourse and healthcourse trajectories.
To discuss this area please get in touch with one of the key contacts:
Childhood Health, Wellbeing and Disability
We lead cutting edge research to enable all children to live happy and healthy lives from childhood to growing up to adults. Various things can make it hard for children and their families to live the lives they want. We are passionate about changing this, and our research topics are selected together with families.
Our research seeks to promote the best start in life for all children. Including children who have no current health problems, babies born with early health challenges, and children with long-term conditions. You can read more about our work on:
To discuss this area please get in touch with one of the key contacts:
Congenital Heart Disease
Our research spans the entire life course and encompasses a wide range of research interests:
- laboratory based developmental biology
- clinically applied research
- epidemiology
Our group represents the academic activities of:
- paediatric cardiology
- adult congenital heart disease
- paediatric cardiac intensive care medicine
- congenital heart disease surgery
We are integrated with the North East and North Cumbria Congenital Heart Disease Operational Delivery Network.
Further details of our groups interests, seminars and meetings and news can be found on our blog.
Women and Babies
The time from conception to birth can have significant impacts on the physical and mental health of women and their babies. Our research, which spans the pre-conceptual to postnatal period, aims to answer important questions such as:
- what leads to good or bad outcomes for women and their babies
- what can be done to ensure that all babies have the best start in life
- how can healthcare best meet the needs of women, babies and their wider families
To discuss this area please get in touch with one of the key contacts:
Who we work with
Our approach is highly collaborative, curious and outward looking. We embrace interdisciplinary exchanges as an opportunity to generate new ideas, knowledge and innovations.
We work together with colleagues and partners across sectors locally, nationally and internationally. Much of our research is designed and carried out in collaboration with the NHS, patients and the public. You can read about our latest activities on our blog.
We are also closely connected to other research groups within the University:
Where We Will Go
A short video and animation to articulate the experience of losing a twin from a multiple pregnancy. It builds on Professor Judith Rankin’s previous research with parents and health professionals, and Professor Anne Whitehead’s research on memory and grief, find out more
The project was run in partnership with the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and with the affiliated charity Tiny Lives. The film was funded by the Humanities and Social Sciences Impact Fund and the Tilly Hale Fund within the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University. It won the 2023 Newcastle University Engagement and Place award for 'Engaging for Health, Well-being and Societal Benefit'.