Cohort Details and Available Data
Resources where you can find information about BIS and the data available include the following:
Cohort Details:
- Cohort Profile: The Barwon Infant Study, Vuillermin et al 2015 International Journal of Epidemiology
- Schedule of Events (last updated 6 August 2020)
- MCRI Lifecourse Website
Biological Samples:
Data Dictionaries and Questionnaires:
Further information, including questionnaires and data dictionaries are available on request by contacting our data manager Hassam Iqbal: hassam.iqbal@mcri.edu.au or email bis@barwonhealth.org.au
Data Linkage:
As part of the school age review, we are requesting Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and Commonwealth data linkage access to the following services:
- Medicare Benefits Scheme
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
- Australian Immunisation Register
For more information read our Data Linkage Booklet here
Please contact our data manager Hassam Iqbal: hassam.iqbal@mcri.edu.au or bis@barwonhealth.org.au if you would like to work on collaborative data linkage projects.
How to request data:
The process for gaining access to BIS data is available below:
Before data can be provided, you will need to have your analysis concept approved by the BIS Steering Committee. To discuss your analysis concept, contact BIS at bis@barwonhealth.org.au
A template for developing a BIS concept is available here: BIS concept template
You will always need to sign a research agreement and agree to abide by BIS governance rules before being granted access to BIS data: BIS Governance Policy
The research agreement is a governance step to be developed with your BIS Steering Committee link, and Nicola Cooley: nicola.cooley@barwonhealth.org.au
Most data requests can be submitted through Pooler, which can be accessed through REDCap. Instructions for using Pooler are available below. To request access to Pooler, contact Hassam Iqbal: hassam.iqbal@mcri.edu.au
If you need assistance or advice on how to format your analysis code using STATA, there are templates available here: STATA do-file templates
An example of how you could sturcture your analysis to make it reproducible (for your future self, as well as for other researchers) is available here: example_dofile
You can also contact hassam.iqbal@mcri.edu.au, or you can attend one of the training courses offered by the Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (CEBU): CEBU training courses
Future Data Collection:
BIS is a long-term observational study that will examine the effects of various factors on the influences on the health, well-being and development of more than 1,000 mother-infant pairs from the Barwon region. The longer we follow participating families the more we will learn.