University of Liverpool

C-GULL Study

Children Growing Up in Liverpool (C-GULL) Study

The C-GULL Study will be one of the largest longitudinal family studies in the UK - and the first in Liverpool.

The study is recruiting up to 10,000 families from across the Liverpool City Region to build a clearer picture of the health of children growing up in the area. Like many communities, children in Liverpool face health challenges including poverty, limited access to healthy food, and higher rates of childhood obesity. The region also has a higher prevalence of some long-term conditions, such as asthma and allergies.

By working with families, researchers and healthcare professionals hope to better understand these issues and develop strategies to improve children’s health and wellbeing.

Morph solution

We have supported the C-GULL Study from the outset, delivering our Study Solution alongside a range of additional print materials and animations.

Patient Information Animation – an engaging animation that explained what participation in C-GULL involved, from pregnancy through childhood follow-up. Designed for parents and families, this animation helped build trust and confidence by showing the value of the study in a simple, reassuring way.
Extra animations - additional animations explaining key aspects of the study as they are introduced, plus shortened versions of the main animation for social channels
Participant Information Tool (PIT) – an interactive online tool that presented the patient information sheet in a step-by-step, accessible format. For C-GULL, this made it easier for parents-to-be to digest the details of long-term participation and supported truly informed consent.
Study Website – the central digital hub for C-GULL, providing families with clear, easy-to-navigate information about the study. It brought together the animations, PIT, and key details in one place, ensuring consistency and accessibility for participants across the Liverpool City Region.

C-GULL Study Animation

The Children Growing Up in Liverpool, C-GULL study, is tracking the health and wellbeing of children and their families in the Liverpool City Region.

We are collecting valuable information from 10,000 children and their families, starting in pregnancy and continuing throughout their lives. This type of study is called a longitudinal birth cohort.

C-GULL is the first dedicated birth cohort in Liverpool. We are inviting all women aged 16 and over, pregnant with their first child, being cared for at Liverpool Women’s Hospital to take part. We want to involve all women and partners, where appropriate.

Taking part is voluntary and you can change your mind and leave at any time. If you decide not to take part, you will still receive the normal standard of care. If you do decide to take part, you will be asked to sign a consent form.

You will be invited to visit the research centre at Liverpool Women’s Hospital between 12–16 weeks and 32–36 weeks of your pregnancy. At each visit you will see a research midwife and be asked some questions, have some measurements taken and give a small sample of blood, urine and hair. When you have your child we will also like to take a sample of your placenta and some of the blood from your child’s cord.

Shortly after birth we will ask if we can measure your baby’s body composition using a special incubator called a Pea Pod. This does not take long and should not cause any pain or discomfort to your baby.

We will contact you again when your baby is three months old and again at 12 months of age. At 24 months we will invite you back to the research centre with your toddler so that we can catch up with you and see how your baby is growing and developing.

In the future we will invite you to take part in follow-up assessments to discuss your child’s health and development. These assessments are voluntary.

We will also ask permission to request information from the NHS and other government departments. All information and samples collected as part of the study will be stored legally and securely. If you withdraw from the study no further samples or data will be collected.

Taking part in this study will not put you or your baby at risk of harm and your normal maternity care will not be affected. Taking part will mean that your child’s development is tracked throughout their childhood, teenage years and beyond.

We believe that taking part in this study will help us to understand what can improve the lives and health of children and their families in the Liverpool City Region.

If you would like to take part or have any questions about this study, please contact a member of the research team.

Morph's commitment to excellence is evident in every aspect of their work. They consistently demonstrate a remarkable level of professionalism, responsiveness, and attention to detail. Their ability to understand and translate complex clinical research concepts into visually appealing and easily understandable graphics and animations is truly commendable.

Dr. Christine Cornforth, Director of Partnerships & Programmes, The University of Liverpool.