Lifelines opened its doors in UMCG for the fourth assessment
This week Lifelines opened the first location for already the fourth round of the long-term, Northern health study. A new location has been set up in the UMCG where, for the first time, participants can also take self-measurements. The data and biobank has been collecting a huge treasure trove of data from - since its inception - 167,000 Northerners for 18 years, making it one of the largest biobanks in the world. And we are very proud of that!
90,000 Northerners in previous assessment
More than 90,000 participants volunteered to participate in the previous, third assessment of Lifelines research, where they are screened from head to toe. Among other things, a heart monitor is taken, blood pressure is measured, and participants donate blood and urine. They do this about once every five years. They also fill out regular questionnaires on a variety of topics. This gives science insight into how diseases arise and develop. The volunteer participants receive the results of their measurements and feedback on their blood and urine values.
Repeated assessment Lifelines provides insight into disease development
The Northern data collected proved its value during the corona pandemic, when researchers from home and abroad used Lifelines data. It was precisely then that data collected in the past, such as lung function tests, proved invaluable. Lifelines also plays an important role in the relatively new field of research that focuses on the influence of gut bacteria on health. Over ten thousand participants deposited stool samples several times. These materials are used for various studies, including in the new Groningen Microbiome Hub of the UMCG.
Data for health policy
Both nationally and regionally, the data from the research program are increasingly being used by policy makers, such as GGDs and RIVM. The data are very suitable to support, monitor and evaluate health policy. For example, Lifelines data has been included in the Mental Health Data Workshop. This is a data-driven approach for the transition from care to health that works on the (mental) health of residents of Drenthe.
Funding and future
Lifelines has received funding from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) to conduct the fourth round of research. In addition, the UMCG and the University of Groningen are funding the basic infrastructure of the research program. The current funding is focused on the existing group of participants. There are also discussions with the Province of Groningen to admit new participants to the cohort. There is considerable interest in participating in the research program and an additional tens of thousands of Northerners could then gain comprehensive insight into their health.