THE NORTH-CUMBRIA-COMMUNITY-GENETICS-PROJECT

The aim of the North Cumbria Community Genetics Project is to establis h a store of DNA, plasma, and viable cells from a cohort of around 800 0 Cumbrian infants. To meet this objective, specimens of umbilical cor d blood and tissue will be collected with maternal consent from babies born at the West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven over a five year per iod from January 1996. These samples will be used in a series of genet ic and epidemiological studies investigating the interaction between g enes, the environment, and health. There is little population movement in West Cumbria and so it will be possible to follow many of the babi es throughout their childhood and to investigate the relationship betw een their genetic constitution and health outcome.