Local Research. Global Impact.
ORIGINS is the largest study of its kind in Australia. Following 10,000 WA children from their time in the womb into early childhood, ORIGINS researchers are working to better understand how the early environment impacts the development of non-communicable diseases.
The unique long-term study is one of the most comprehensive studies of pregnant women and their families in Australia, recruiting families who received pregnancy care at , as well as families from the Joondalup and Wanneroo communities.
ORIGINS researchers are collecting detailed information from our participating families via questionnaires, in-person checks and collection of biological samples, to determine how the early environment influences the risk of a broad range of diseases, including asthma, allergies, mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders.
The total ORIGINS population will consist of more than 20,000 individuals within family units - including mothers, partners, children and siblings.
ORIGINS acknowledges core funding provided by the Telethon Perth Children’s Hospital Research Fund, Joondalup Health Campus, the Paul Ramsay Foundation, the Commonwealth Government of Australia through the Channel 7 Telethon Trust, and the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation.
Team leader

BSc (Hons)

MBBS, FRACP, MPH, PhD
Co-Head, ORIGINS
Team members (13)

BA (Hons), MPsych, PhD

BSc(Hons), MPsych/PhD
Senior Research Fellow
Nina D'Vaz
Biobank Manager, The ORIGINS Project
Avril Bezant
Research Assistant
Bailee Renouf
Lab Technician
Courtney Kidd
Research & Biobank Assistant
Emma Cooper
Research Assistant
Jo Cole
Research Assistant, Birth Team
Jodie Leslie
Research Assistant
Lisa Porter
Research Assistant
Nikki Chong
Honorary Research Fellow
Poonam Pannu
Project Officer
Dr Sarah Whalan
Data Coordinator
Featured projects
ORIGINS community wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic
Kindy Readiness Project
October 2021
Other projects
Mums Minds Matter Water Quality and the Microbiome Study (TUMS): The effects of chlorinated drinking water on the assembly of the infant gut microbiome The PrEggNut Study – Maternal diet rich in eggs and peanuts to reduce food allergies: a randomised controlled trial The PLAN Project (Pregnancy Lifestyle Activity and Nutrition) The Engage Study: discovering and delighting in your baby - a pilot study The Cardiovascular Risk Evaluation in Expectant Fathers (CARE-Dads) Study All ORIGINS projects