The Generation New Era study, led by the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies and researchers from the universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Swansea and Ulster, is the first UK-wide birth cohort study in 25 years.

The research aims to follow the children as they grow up, building an up-to-date picture of children’s development to inform public policy.

It will cover themes including child health and development, parental health, family, home, social, environmental and neighbourhood influences, and inequality.

The study has randomly selected families from birth records held by government departments and agencies. The study team will also invite parents to use a smartphone app to log their baby’s language and wider development, and other baby-focused topics monthly, with families invited to take part in another interview when their child is three years old.

Professor Ailsa Goodman, co-director of the study, UCL, said: “The world children are growing up in is changing fast. Generation New Era will listen to families from all walks of life, especially families whose voices are often missing from research. The study will help shine a light on the challenges and opportunities they face today.”

Ipsos, the National Centre for Social Research and Verian are the fieldwork partners for the study and will conduct the interviews.

The research is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), part of UKRI. The Fatherhood Institute is also supporting engagement with fathers for the research.

Stian Westlake, ESRC executive chair, said: “This is an exciting moment for the first UK-wide birth cohort study in a quarter of a century as the first interviews with parents begin.”

Westlake added: “The evidence produced will influence public policy for generations to come, building on the rich legacy of our existing cohort studies.”