The Dunedin Study - Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health & Development Research Unit

Message from the Director

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit website. Here you will find information about the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health & Development Study (the Dunedin Study for short) which has now been ongoing for almost half a century. At our most recent phase (age) 45 data collection, 94% of living Study members participated - an unmitigated success.

We tell you how the Study began, details of the assessments we have conducted and the publications that have been generated. We describe the sub-studies of the Dunedin Study: the Parenting Study, the Next Generation Study and the Family Health History Study. Whether you are a Study member, researcher, or a member of the public, I hope you will find this information interesting and useful.

The wider Dunedin community has been critical in helping build the Dunedin study. We thank all those who have contributed, in many different ways, over the past 45 years.

Finally, we extend a special thanks to the 1037 Study members, their families and friends who have willingly given so much, for so long, in the hope of helping others. On behalf of all the researchers involved, we salute you.

Professor Richie Poulton, CNZM FRSNZ
Director

Latest updates

Dunedin Study cited in Science News' "100 years of psychology studies have tried to make sense of the mind — Century of Scien 2021 is the centennial year of Science News’ publication, and the magazine is posting articles on the last 100 years of research in various scientific disciplines » NZ International Science Festival hosts Slice of Life exhibition in Dunedin: June to August 2021 During the Science Festival, visitors can get a tiny taste of the Dunedin Study by trying for themselves some of the many tests Dunedin Study members experience when they come for an assessment day » "The Origins of You" has pride of place on PM's bookshelf While Richie was meeting the Prime Minister in his role as Science Advisor to her portfolio as Minister for Child Poverty Reduction, he noticed "The Origins of You" in pride of place in her bookshelf » New Zealand Book Launch with Richie Poulton and Sir Graham Henry : "The Origins of you. How childhood shapes later life" Richie's new book "The Origins of you » New Book "The Origins of You: How Childhood Shapes Later Life" - Bloomberg Best Nonfiction 2020 In December 2020 'The Origins of You' was selected by Bloomberg as one of the 15 best nonfiction books for 2020 » Radio NZ interview with Richie Poulton on new book that examines how childhood shapes later life "In his new book, The Origins of You: How Childhood Shapes Later Life, University of Otago professor Richie Poulton and his co-authors set out their search to learn how much our origins shape our later lives »