The £42.8 million Generation New Era birth cohort study will create a comprehensive picture of early childhood development in all four nations of the UK. Funded by the UKRI Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), this is the first new UK-wide longitudinal birth cohort study in 25 years and comes as the government publishes its Giving every child the best start in life policy paper. The intention is that the initiative will track these children and their families throughout their lives. Professor Fearon, Director of the Centre for Child, Adolescent and Family Research at Cambridge, said: “Children’s lives have changed dramatically since the last UK birth cohort study was launched at the turn of the century. The evidence this study produces can underpin policy that makes the UK a happier, healthier and fairer place, improving lives and livelihoods.