Generation Scotland: Scottish Family Health Study

The aim of GS: SFHS is to establish a large, family-based intensively-phenotyped cohort recruited from the general population across Scotland, as a resource for studying the genetics of health areas of current and projected public health importance. It aims to identify genetic variants accounting for variation in levels of quantitative traits underlying the major common complex diseases (such as cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, mental illness) in Scotland.

Baseline data was collected at a single clinic visit. Longitudinal data is available by linkage to NHS medical records. Some participants are being invited to new clinic visits in 2015-17. This profile also includes scanning information from the Stratifying Resilience and Depression Longitudinally (STRADL) study to which approximately 1500 GS participants are being invited for scanning.

Last Update 21/09/2017

Types General population-based cohort
Participant Types No diagnosis
Countries United Kingdom
Genders Male and Female
Sample sizes 20,000 to 49,999
Ages 10 to 19|20 to 39|40 to 59|60 to 100
Brain related measures Behaviour|Cognitive function|Mental health|Neurological
Funtional rating
Anthropometric Blood pressure|Height|Hip circumference|Waist circumference|Weight
Physical Cardiovascular|Musculoskeletal|Reproductive|Respiratory
Biological samples Blood|Urine
Genotyping Gene screening
Brain imaging Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Brain banking
Lifestyle Alcohol|Dietary habits|Physical activity|Smoking
Socio-economic Education|Ethnic group|Family circumstances|Housing and accommodation|Income and finances|Occupation and employment
Health service utilisation Formal health and social care service utilisation including private care
Institute names Universities of Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow and NHS Scotland
Current Sample Sizes 20,000 to 49,999

age at recruitment >18
last updated
recruitment period 2006-2011
estimated current sample size number value
cohort acronym GS:SFHS
start date 2006-2011
pi Professor David Porteous
website www.generationscotland.org
contact details Medical Genetics Section,
University of Edinburgh,
IGMM,
Western General Hospital,
Crewe Road South,
Edinburgh,
EH4 2XU
abstract  GS:SFHS is a longitudinal cohort which recruited 23960 participants over 18 between 2006-2001. It will be used as a resource for studying the genetics of health areas of current and projected public health importance.
funders  Scottish Government Health Directorates
contact email [email protected] PI Email: [email protected]
contact phone number +44 (0) 1316511040
estimated current sample size
sample sizes 23960