The Biological Data Resource in MoBa
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This page contains information regarding biological data that are available for researchers to apply for and use through the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa).
MoBa Biodata
Since recruitment began in 1999, hundreds of thousands of biological samples including blood, urine, saliva and teeth have been collected from MoBa participants and stored at NIPH’s biobank. These samples were primarily collected during pregnancy and at birth, and have since been sent to laboratories all over the world to generate biological data on important biomarkers linked to health and wellbeing.
Physical and mental health and disease is driven and characterized by the complex interplay between genetics and environment, and understanding the underlying factors that determine risk, onset, progression, and outcome requires an integrative study approach that combines multiple levels of qualitative and quantitative data. The biological resource in MoBa provides genomic, epigenomic, metabolomic, and proteomic data that can be combined to study origins of disease from a broader biological perspective. In combination with self-reported questionnaire data and linkage to a variety of health registries, this resource provides researchers with the potential to improve diagnostic and prognostic approaches to disease prevention and treatment, by providing new insights into the multifactorial biological and environmental processes that influence and mediate physical and mental health outcomes.
All biological data that are generated using samples collected from MoBa participants are returned to the cohort and made available to new research projects. The only exceptions are instances where legal or ethical restrictions prevent reuse of such data, or where sample or methodological failures or insufficiencies indicate a failure to meet acceptable scientific standards for reuse.
Biological biomarkers and measures in MoBa
The current biological data resource in MoBa comprises hundreds of variables derived from analyses of whole blood, urine, plasma, and DNA. Each dataset is provided as a unique biological product, categorized based on the omics-data type to which it belongs (genomics, epigenomics, metabolomics or proteomics). Within genomics, datasets are further sub-categorized according to the specific nature of genetic measures targeted by the analyses (whole genome genotype data, single- and multi-locus genotype data, telomere data, or zygosity data).
For each biological data product, an accompanying product documentation has been developed that provides important information related to study design, sampling and analytical methodology, detection/quantification limits and restrictions for use. Where available, previous application of biological data in peer-review publication is also described. The section below provides an overview of the MoBa biodata products and specific biomarker variables that are currently available for users to apply for and use. Affiliated product documentation is provided via links at the bottom of this page, and grouped according to the overarching biological omics category to which generated data most relate.
A complete overview of currently available MoBa biodata biomarkers and measures in MoBa can be found by clicking on the relevant links in the table below, grouped based on participant and sample type.
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MoBa mothers |
MoBa fathers |
MoBa children |
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Urine |
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Whole blood |
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Plasma |
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DNA |
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Serum |
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For each of the individual datasets with biological data that have been made available in MoBa, user documentation has been prepared that contains associated study-specific information required for reliable re-use in scientific analyses and peer-review publication. To view product documentation for individual MoBa biodata products that are currently available, please select from the relevant list of datasets below.
Metabolomics biodata
- Mab001(pdf)
- Mab003 (pdf)
- Mab004 (pdf)
- Mab005 (pdf)
- Mab007( pdf)
- Mab008 (pdf)
- Mab009 (pdf)
- Mab010 (pdf)
- Mab011 (pdf)
- Mab012 (pdf)
- Mab013 (pdf)
- Mab014 (pdf)
- Mab015 (pdf)
- Mab016 (pdf)
- Mab017 (pdf)
Proteomics biodata
- Pro001(pdf)
- Pro002 (pdf)
- Pro003 (pdf)
- Pro004 (pdf)
- Pro006 (pdf)*
Genomics biodata
Note: this section links to datasets that comprise small-scale genetic biodata, and does not include the whole genome genotype and methylation data that are available through MoBa.
- Gtp001 (pdf)
- Gtp002 (pdf)*
- Tel001 (pdf)
- Zyg001 (pdf)
* These data are prepared and available for re-use, but product documentation is currently under development and will be provided as soon as these are completed
Contact information
For questions related to the biological data resource and associated documentation, please contact data managers in the Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics, Ragnhild Valen and Even Birkeland, at biodata@fhi.no.
For general enquiries related to the establishment of research projects using MoBa data and associated application procedures and ethical/legal considerations, please contact the case managers in MoBa’s Administration at MoBaAdm@fhi.no.