GINIplus
The GINIplus study is a long-term birth cohort study, which recruited 5991 children from two regions of Germany (Munich and Wesel each with surrounding area). The study is ongoing, with numerous participant follow-ups carried out from birth to young adulthood.
The aim of the GINIplus study is to investigate the role of environmental exposures, life-style factors and genetic predisposition in the development of common chronic diseases with a specific focus on the development of allergic diseases.
The GINIplus study is further contributing data in a multitude of collaborative efforts to further understand childhood allergies, growth and genetics.
Our website for the participants of the GINIplus study: www.ginistudie.de (in German).
The GINIplus study is a long-term birth cohort study, which recruited 5991 children from two regions of Germany (Munich and Wesel each with surrounding area). The study is ongoing, with numerous participant follow-ups carried out from birth to young adulthood.
The aim of the GINIplus study is to investigate the role of environmental exposures, life-style factors and genetic predisposition in the development of common chronic diseases with a specific focus on the development of allergic diseases.
The GINIplus study is further contributing data in a multitude of collaborative efforts to further understand childhood allergies, growth and genetics.
Our website for the participants of the GINIplus study: www.ginistudie.de (in German).
About our Cohort Study
The German Infant Study on the Influence of Nutrition Intervention plus Air pollution and Genetics on Allergy Development (GINIplus) is a multicentre, population-based prospective birth cohort study. The study consists of two arms: an interventional and an observational arm. Both arms together represent a population-based birth cohort. Newborns with family history of allergy were recruited for the interventional arm (GINI = German Infant Nutritional Intervention program): a randomized, double-blind controlled trial with 3 hydrolysed formulae versus cow’s milk formula feeding during first 4 months of life (n=1165 in Munich, n=1087 in Wesel). Newborns with a negative family history or positive family history but refusing participation in the trial were included in the observational study arm.
In total (both arms) the study enrolled 5991 healthy full-term newborns in two German regions, Munich (n = 2949) representing an urban area and Wesel (n = 3042) representing a rural area. Enrollment started in September 1995 and ended in June 1998. Participants were followed-up since birth at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 15, 20 and now 25 years of age, as well as during the COVID-19 pandemic.
General
- To describe the natural course of a broad spectrum of selected health parameters starting from infancy to young adulthood with a focus on the development of atopic diseases.
- To determine the impact of feeding regimen in infancy, environmental exposures, life style factors and genetic predisposition.
- To investigate the influence of mental health, nutrition, body weight and physical activity on child and adolescent health.
Study region Munich
- Helmholtz Munich - Institute of Epidemiology: Marie Standl (PI GINIplus)
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, LMU Klinikum, University of Munich: Sibylle Koletzko (Previously PI GINIplus)
- Department of Pediatrics, Technical University Munich: Carl P. Bauer (Previously PI GINIplus)
Wesel
- Marien-Hospital Wesel, Department of Pediatrics, Research Institute: Dietrich Berdel (Previously PI GINIplus), Andrea von Berg
Düsseldorf
- IUF – Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine: Tamara Schikowski (PI GINIplus)
- Evangelisches Krankenhaus Düsseldorf, Children‘s Hospital. Clinical PI Monika Gappa
Head of Research Group 'Allergic Disease Epidemiology', Head (ad interim) of Research Group 'Lung Epidemiology', Statistician
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Contact for study participants
Responsible Investigator for GINIplus Munich