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Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPSLeibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS

Birth cohort studies in Ulm: structure and selected findings

Epidemiological Methods and Etiological Research BIPS Institute Seminar

At the BIPS-Institutsseminar, Dietrich Rothenbacher presented the Ulm birth cohort studies and selected findings from their long-term research. His talk focused on the structure, data collection and key scientific results from two prospective cohort studies.

Birth cohort studies in Ulm: structure and selected findings


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Rothenbacher explained that the first study was initiated in 1999/2000 and included 1,066 mothers and their newborns. Data collection involved standardized interviews conducted during hospitalization after delivery, as well as the collection of biological samples, including blood, serum, DNA, saliva, stool samples and breast milk at multiple time points postpartum.

The second cohort study, the Ulm SPATZ Health Study, was launched in 2012 and included approximately 1,000 newborns and their families. While the study designs are comparable, this cohort places a stronger emphasis on psychosocial strain and stress. In addition, a biobank was established to support long-term analyses.

Analyses of the cohorts, both separately and in combination, have resulted in more than 70 peer-reviewed publications across various research fields. The presentation provided an overview of key findings and reflected on lessons learned from the studies to date.

Dietrich Rothenbacher is Director of the Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry at Ulm University.

The full talk can be found here.