Cohort Profile: Generation Victoria (GenV)

Generation Victoria (GenV) is a whole-of-state research platform established to improve child and adult health, development and wellbeing through discovery and interventional research. It comprises participant-provided and service-collected data and biosamples, with planned 5-6 yearly child and parent phenotypic waves.

All children living in Victoria, Australia, born between 4 October 2021 and 3 October 2023 and their parents/guardians are eligible for GenV’s ‘ Cohort 2020s’ . Recruitment remains open.

We describe the GenV Cohort ‘Foundation Set’ recruited to 1 May 2025. Of eligible children, 29.7% had joined Cohort 2020s (43 945 children; 64 106 parents/guardians). Together with an ‘ Advance Cohort ’ (born December 2020-October 2021), we recruited 49 783 children and 74 270 parents/guardians (48 213 birth parent/mothers; 25 428 fathers; 314 other parents/guardians); 761 (0.6%) had withdrawn.

Cohort 2020s birth mothers/parents were aged 15-54 years, 23% lived in regional/rural areas, and 25% spoke non-English languages.

Data and biosample collection includes baseline surveys, biosamples (e.g., saliva 81%, stool 16%, breastmilk 16%); optional inter-wave surveys (up to 33%); residual antenatal (up to 28%) and birth biosamples (up to 97%), and extensive linkage to services, administrative and geospatial data (up to 98%).

Numerous collaborative research projects are under way; end-user applications will commence 2026.