The studies we've funded
Learn more about the studies we've funded over the years, and what
Projects that families can take part in
We only promote research studies to families if we believe they are relevant to, or closely associated with, our work. Whilst we do ask for proof of ethical approval, we are not involved in running these studies and they may not be funded by The Lullaby Trust, so any questions you have should be directed to the study contacts below.
The impact of childhood perinatal sibling loss on reproductive decision making in adulthood
A study at the University of East London is considering the impact of sibling bereavement. Whilst there is substantial evidence highlighting the impact of perinatal loss on parents’ mental health, the impact of siblings has not been explored, particularly into adulthood. Experiences of grief are suggested to become more prevalent during big life transitions, such as thinking about starting a family. Stories and beliefs about parenthood are thought to be passed down through generations. This research will therefore particularly focus on individuals’ experiences of contemplating and transitioning into parenthood, with the aim of improving support for bereaved siblings.
You are eligible to take part if you:
- Are aged 18 or over
- Lost a sibling during the perinatal period (any time from conception until 12 months after birth), either before you were born, or when you were 5 years old or younger
- Not currently pregnant or actively trying to conceive
- Not currently accessing NHS mental health services
You are eligible to take part if you already have children, do not have children yet or plan not to have any children.
You will be asked to take part in a virtual interview, conducted via Microsoft Teams, lasting approximately 60-90 minutes. You will be asked about your experiences losing your sibling, and how you feel this may have impacted you in adulthood, as well as some questions about your thoughts and experiences about becoming a parent yourself. The conversation will be audio and video recorded. The amount of information you choose to share is up to you and will not disadvantage you in any way.
Should you wish, you will be entered into a prize draw to win one of four £25 Love2Shop vouchers as reimbursement for your time.
Understanding views of the impacts of hot weather on pregnancy and newborn health in England
A study at Newcastle University is hoping to better understand how people view hot weather in England during pregnancy and the newborn period. The study involves a survey asking about your thoughts and experiences (if applicable) of hot weather during the summer months. This will help the team develop ways to help people reduce the impacts of hot weather during pregnancy and the newborn period.
This survey is for people aged 16 years and over and living in England who:
- Are pregnant.
- Have been pregnant in the last 12 months.
- Are a parent, guardian or carer of a baby aged 12 months old or under (not as part of paid work).
- Have been a parent, guardian, or carer of a baby aged 12 months or under in the last 12 months (not as part of paid work).
- Are partners of any of the above. Partner refers to a spouse (husband, wife), civil partner, a boyfriend or girlfriend or someone you consider to be your partner.
The survey can be submitted online and should take around 20-30 minutes to complete.
The ChildBone Study
The ChildBone Study, based at The University of Sheffield, in collaboration with Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, is working to revolutionise how children’s bones are studied.
The ChildBone study is trying to understand more about how children’s bones grow and how they might be affected by things like low vitamin D or other health conditions. Sometimes, these changes in bone strength and property aren’t visible on X-rays, so researchers need to look more closely at the bone tissue itself. For this study, the team will take two small samples from the ribs. Each sample would be about 3 to 4 centimetres long, and they would be used for mechanical testing to understand the material properties of the rib bones. The aim is to test the bone’s strength and structure, which could help us understand how children’s bones respond to different conditions, with different vitamin D levels. They will also build a database of different types of children’s bones. These virtual bones (or digital twins) will be used to predict fracture and study the effect of material properties on the strength of bone virtually (without actually breaking them). This knowledge could help improve care for other children in the future.
Families will be recruited for this study exclusively through coronial cases referred to the Sheffield Children’s Hospital, however if you are interested in supporting this project as part of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE), please contact Dr Xinshan Li on [email protected]
End date: 31 August 2028
BabyLab and ToddlerLab are looking for babies and children to help with their research in understanding child development
BabyLab & ToddlerLab at the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development are in need of baby and child participants. Based at Birkbeck, University of London with a bright and cheerful reception with changing facilities and toys, their purpose-built labs are cutting-edge and harness the latest developments in technology to study child development. Signing up is free and easy and involves no commitment – it means they have the ability to contact parents when their baby or child matches the age group of one of their studies. The team will then invite them to take part and hope they say yes! They will refund travel costs and all babies/children who take part receive a certificate and small gift. The studies currently running look at a variety of topics including socialisation, listening preferences, attention, sleep, screen time, action control and noise in the home.
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Our achievements
Discover the impact of the research we've funded, and the campaigns that were developed because of that research, saving and changing lives.