Generation Scotland Research Group

Research in a Nutshell

A bioresource of human biological samples and data, available for medical research.

Generation Scotland (GS) aims to create more effective treatments based on gene knowledge to the medical, social and economic benefit of Scotland and its people. Research participants from across Scotland have helped Generation Scotland create a world class biomedical resource for research into the genetic and environmental determinants of physical and mental health.

GS has created an ethically sound research resource to support health data science. It incorporates three Research Tissue Banks: the Scottish Family Health Study (GS:SFHS), Genetic Health in the 21st Century (GS:21CGH) and the Donor DNA Databank (GS:3D). Together these projects have recruited a cohort of over 30,000 people. Research participants have given consent to allow both academic and commercial research, and the majority have also given their permission to link to information from their medical records and to be re-contacted about participation in further research.

Following a £5.1 million award for the Wellcome Trust (2019-2024), we aim to extend the breadth and depth of the Generation Scotland cohort by utilising remote sample and data collection to recruit the next generation (aged 12 and over) and double the cohort in size, using e-HR data linkage to NHS Scotland routine data to establish a richly annotated, longitudinal, life-course cohort.

Generation Scotland collaborates widely with UK, EU and international researchers. Generation Scotland is an active partner in a wide range of UK based and international research consortia. Generation Scotland supports UK research infrastructural initiatives such as Health Data Research UK.

For more information and guidance on how to access the resource (phenotype and genotype data, blood DNA, serum and urine), go to our dedicated website:

• Chief Scientist Office
• Scottish Funding Research Council
• Medical Research Council
• Wellcome Trust