JiGenerations Health Cohort Study：Parental Exposure and Intergenerational Health in China

A Population-based Prospective Cohort Study Aimed at Examining the Effects of Parental Exposure Before and During Pregnancy on Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, Offspring Health, and Mental Development for Chinese Ethnics

The growing recognition of maternal health's impact on offspring necessitates large-scale prospective cohort studies spanning the maternal-child life cycle. This study establishes a family-centered birth cohort of 100,000 Chinese participants, tracking from preconception through offspring adolescence to investigate early-life health trajectories and intergenerational transmission of diseases, health status, and psychological-behavioral patterns. Data collection includes biospecimens (placenta, cord blood, breast milk, blood, urine, feces) and multi-omics analysis (genomic, proteomic, metabolomic, microbiomic), alongside clinical information from preconception, pregnancy, birth through childhood (0-14 years). The cohort covers 24 stratified sites across China, incorporating real-time environmental monitoring (air pollution, meteorological data) and sociogeographic factors. Targeting reproductive-age couples (18-45 years) and their offspring, the study addresses multigenerational health linkages, urban-rural disparities, and regional diversity from 2025 to 2039. By integrating genetic, environmental and lifestyle data, this research will identify critical intervention windows and mechanisms for chronic disease transmission across generations, supporting China's "Healthy China" initiative and developing targeted strategies for population health and aging.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Birth Defects; Overweight and Obesity; Child Development; Fertility; Environmental Exposure; Growth Retardation; Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes; Metabolic Abnormality; Health Problems in Pregnancy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: N/A (Observational Study)

Detailed Description

The impact of maternal conditions on offspring health and disease has garnered increasing attention, underscoring the necessity of large-scale, prospective, multicenter cohort studies spanning the entire maternal-child life cycle to elucidate this relationship.

This study aims to establish a family-centered birth cohort of 100,000 individuals, beginning at the preconception stage and tracking offspring through adolescence, to investigate early-life health trajectories. By doing so, we seek to enhance understanding of the intergenerational transmission of disease, health status, longevity, and psychological-behavioral patterns in the Chinese population. Furthermore, this research will identify critical intervention windows and underlying mechanisms, enabling the development of targeted health interventions. Ultimately, these efforts will contribute to improved population health and the advancement of healthy aging strategies rooted in early-life interventions.

Data and Biospecimen Collection Information and biological samples will be collected from couples before conception, during pregnancy, at birth, and throughout childhood (0-14 years), establishing a family-centered cohort spanning preconception, pregnancy, birth, and childhood.

Key health outcomes include metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, neurodevelopmental abnormalities, immune-related conditions, and mental health issues.

Multi-Omics Biobank A comprehensive database will be built using biospecimens such as placenta, umbilical cord blood, umbilical tissue, breast milk, oral epithelial cells, blood, urine, and feces, integrating genomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and microbiomic data.

Study Population and Timeline The target population consists of Chinese couples of reproductive age (18-49 years) and their offspring, with a focus on multigenerational health linkages, urban-rural disparities, and regional representation.

The study will launch in 2025, with long-term follow-up until 2039, conducted in phases from preconception to offspring adolescence.

Geographical and Environmental Coverage A stratified sampling approach will cover 24 research sites across Northwest, Southwest, Central, North, East, South, and Northeast China, ensuring diversity in climate, socioeconomic status, and pollution levels.

Real-time air pollution monitoring (e.g., PM2.5, SO₂), meteorological data (temperature, humidity), and sociogeographic factors (green space, urbanization) will be included.

Significance: By integrating genetic, environmental, and lifestyle data, this study will uncover how early-life exposures influence chronic disease transmission across generations, providing targeted intervention strategies to support China's "Healthy China" initiative and address aging-related challenges.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 100000

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Beijing Municipality
    • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
      • National Research Institute for Family Planning

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

The participants come from 24 survey sites in the northwest, southwest, central, northern, eastern, southern, and northeastern regions, include parental and offspring generations.

1. Parental Generation: Eligible participants include couples of reproductive age who undergo free pre-pregnancy eugenic health examinations, or pregnant women registered for prenatal care at healthcare institutions during early pregnancy (≤14 weeks).
2. Offspring Generation: Newborns whose parents participated in pre-pregnancy eugenic health checks and/or maternal prenatal examinations are enrolled in the cohort upon parental (guardian) consent.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Parental Generation: Eligible participants include couples of reproductive age who undergo free pre-pregnancy eugenic health examinations, or pregnant women registered for prenatal care at healthcare institutions during early pregnancy (≤14 weeks). The participants are aged 18-45 years old and have mobile phones and internet (computer) devices. All participants must provide informed consent and commit to long-term follow-up. The participants have no serious neuropsychiatric disorders, with sufficient understanding and expression to complete the survey.
2. Offspring Generation: Newborns whose parents participated in pre-pregnancy eugenic health checks and/or maternal prenatal examinations are enrolled in the cohort upon parental (guardian) consent. Designated hospitals will provide expedited medical services, free physical examinations, free child healthcare, and free psychological counseling to ensure comprehensive follow-up spanning infancy, preschool, school age, and early adolescence (0-14 years).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Intellectual disability or other serious mental disorders;
2. Suffering from serious underlying diseases and may have a significant impact on pregnancy outcome;
3. Those with poor compliance and difficulty in follow-up.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Condition or exposure; individuals with Condition or exposure.	Other: N/A (Observational Study); This is an observational cohort study. No interventions are assigned. Groups are defined based on different condition or exposure.
Non-Condition or exposure; individuals without Condition or exposure.	Other: N/A (Observational Study); This is an observational cohort study. No interventions are assigned. Groups are defined based on different condition or exposure.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Adverse pregnancy outcomes	the rate of different adverse pregnancy outcomes	At delivery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Complications during pregnancy	The rate of maternal nutritional and pathological health issues.	From enrollment during pregnancy until delivery or pregnancy termination, up to 40 weeks
Associations between prenatal environmental exposures and offspring health outcomes	The Odds Ratio for offspring health outcomes in different prenatal environmental exposures.	at baseline (preconception), during pregnancy (12weeks，24weeks and 32weeks), at delivery, and during offspring follow-up visits (at 3 months，6 months，9months, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 years)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Research Institute for Family Planning, China
• Collaborators: West China Second University Hospital
• Investigators: Study Director: Yuan He, National Centre for Human Genetic Resources, National Research Institute for Family Planning

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2039
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2039

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 16, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 31, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 7, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 7, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 31, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: birth defects; environmental exposures; birth cohort study; pregnant outcomes; children development; Child psychological development
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Digestive System Diseases; Liver Diseases; Fatty Liver; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Congenital Abnormalities; Overweight; Obesity; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Investigative Techniques; Methods; Observation
• Other Study ID Numbers: NRIFP2025002

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No