The ELSA Study
The ELSA Study is screening children (age 2-15) and young adults (age 16-17) for type 1 diabetes.
Children and young adults can have a simple finger stick blood test to find out their risk of developing type 1 diabetes in the future.
Currently open to families living in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Links to other pages
Information for Parents & Young Adults
Click below to view the key information needed to decide whether to take part.
Ready to consent
If you have read the study information and are ready to consent please click below.
Get in touch
Please contact the study team if you have any questions by clicking below.
ELSA Study animations
Parents & Carers (opens pop-up window containing video)
This animation provides a summary of the ELSA Study for parents & carers.
Young Adults (16-17) (opens pop-up window containing video)
This animation provides a summary of the ELSA Study for young adults.
Children (2-15) (opens pop-up window containing video)
This animation provides a summary of the ELSA Study for children.
Aim of the ELSA Study
The ELSA Study is finding children and young adults at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes because the sooner we screen, the sooner we can intervene.
Why get your child / yourself tested for type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong and serious condition. Around the world, research studies are screening children and young adults for type 1 diabetes, so that we can find children and young adults at risk of the condition before they become unwell. This gives us the opportunity to test new treatments that could delay the start of type 1 diabetes.
The ELSA Study is the largest type 1 diabetes screening programme for children and young adults aged 2-17 years in the UK.
What if I do not want to take part in the ELSA study screening programme?
Taking part in the screening programme is entirely voluntary and if you choose not to take part in the screening programme, this will not affect routine care in any way. However, parents/guardians and young adults can still take part in the ELSA study interview, to tell us your thoughts and concerns about screening for type 1 diabetes. Your views will not be judged or challenged; we really want to hear a wide range of perspectives.
Adults can get screened for type 1 diabetes in the T1DRA study
Find out more here: https://t1dra.bristol.ac.uk/
A special thank you to all of the parents, carers and young people who have contributed to the design and delivery of the ELSA Study.
