Nearly half of all babies born in NI in 2026 invited to join landmark ‘Generation New Era’ study

(L-R) Dr Orla McBride, Study Lead for Northern Ireland, Ulster University, Professor Ian Young, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department of Health, Northern Ireland and Beccy Shipman, Deputy Director of Data Strategy and Infrastructure at ESRC pictured at the official Northern Ireland launch of the landmark UK-wide birth cohort study Generation New Era (GNE).

Ulster University launches UK-wide project to track childhood and family life for generations to come

Nearly half of all babies born in Northern Ireland in 2026 will be invited to take part in a landmark UK-wide study — Generation New Era — which aims to transform understanding of childhood, family life and societal change.

The official Northern Ireland launch took place at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast on Monday evening (21 October), hosted by Ulster University.

The event brought together academics, policymakers and stakeholders to explore how the study’s findings could inform future early years policy and shape services across health, education and social care.

Funded by the UKRI Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and led by University College London (UCL), the research will be delivered in partnership with three co-lead academic institutions: Ulster University, Swansea University, and the University of Edinburgh.

A new window into the lives of Northern Ireland’s children

Generation New Era will follow 30,000 new babies across the UK, including around 4,200 in Northern Ireland. Researchers will collect data at two key stages — when the children are between nine and 11 months, and again at three to four years old — to build a detailed picture of how modern childhood is evolving.

The study will explore how technological, environmental, and social shifts are shaping children’s physical, mental, and emotional development.

Researchers plan to continue tracking the same group of children and their families throughout their lives, offering long-term insight into how early experiences influence adult outcomes.

Dr Orla McBride, Study Lead for Northern Ireland at Ulster University, said:

“I am delighted to be here this evening to mark the official launch of the Generation New Era study. With its scale and ambition, this study will create the most detailed evidence base on early childhood in 25 years, supporting long-term planning and investment in maternity care, mental health, education, and community services.

“As we move from launch to delivery, collaboration with government and stakeholders will be essential. Their input will help shape policy and ensure that services are grounded in robust, up-to-date, evidence-based findings.”

A study that touches every part of society

The project will include interviews with both parents — including fathers who may not live with their children — to ensure that the research reflects the full diversity of modern family life.

Dr McBride added:

“By capturing the needs and experiences of today’s pre-school children, the study aims to improve health, educational, social, and economic outcomes.”

Welcoming the launch, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said the study would help shape more responsive and effective policies:

“The findings from ‘Generation New Era’ will directly inform policy development across government departments, helping to ensure that services and support for families are based on robust, up-to-date evidence and will further strengthen existing policy frameworks.

“This is a study that will make a difference, not just in academic circles, but also in homes, communities, and government offices across the UK.”

Beccy Shipman, Deputy Director of Data Strategy and Infrastructure at ESRC, said the study would provide an invaluable resource for decades to come:

“ESRC is delighted to be funding Generation New Era, the UK’s first longitudinal birth cohort in 25 years. The lives of children born next year will be shaped in ways that were hard to imagine two decades ago.

“This investment is vital and will provide cutting edge data that will support researchers and policymakers to understand the lives of children born in Northern Ireland and across the rest of the UK. Like other similar studies of previous generations, the evidence produced by this will underpin policy that can make the UK a happier, healthier and fairer place, improving lives and livelihoods.”

Professor Liam Maguire, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research at Ulster University, said:

“Ulster University is proud to be a partner in this landmark study. Generation New Era offers a unique opportunity to deepen understanding of child development in Northern Ireland. The insights it generates will be invaluable to policymakers and practitioners, supporting improved outcomes for children and families for generations to come.”

Shaping the future for a new generation

With almost half of all babies born in Northern Ireland in 2026 invited to participate, Generation New Era represents one of the most ambitious and inclusive social research projects ever undertaken in the region.

Its findings will guide policymakers and communities as they plan services for a rapidly changing society — one in which early experiences, family relationships, and new technologies increasingly define the path from childhood to adulthood.

For more information, visit CLS | Generation New Era.