The call for papers for the CLS Conference 2026 has now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted. We will be in touch as soon as possible with the outcome.
About the conference
For 80 years, the UK’s cohort studies have tracked generations of Britons, providing invaluable evidence on how our early lives continue to shape us as we grow up, and grow old.
The CLS Conference 2026 will bring together researchers from across disciplines, sectors and career stages to showcase outstanding life course research using cohort data. It is an opportunity to hear about the latest findings from the cohorts, share learning with colleagues, and network with fellow data users. The conference is also a chance to meet the staff running the studies, and give your input on the work of CLS and future direction of the cohorts.
General registration and a provisional programme will be available in May/June 2026.
Call for papers (now closed)
Submission criteria
Submissions were invited from any researchers using CLS cohort data, across disciplines, career stages, sectors and geographic regions, which met the following criteria:
1. Submissions must use data from at least one CLS cohort study.
Submissions that use CLS data alongside other data sources were welcome. CLS cohort studies include:
- 1946 National Survey of Health and Development
- 1958 National Child Development Study
- 1970 British Cohort Study
- Next Steps
- Millennium Cohort Study
- COVID Social Mobility and Opportunities Study
- Children of the 2020s
- Early Life Cohort Feasibility Study.
2. Submissions must fit at least one of the conference themes:
- ageing
- child development
- cognition
- families
- labour markets and skills
- mental health
- physical health
- poverty, disadvantage and social mobility
- statistical and survey methods.
3. Submissions must use robust methods and be of a good scientific standard.
In addition, submissions featuring any of the following were particularly encouraged:
- longitudinal analysis
- use of the most recent data releases from the CLS cohorts: NCDS Age 62 Sweep, BCS70 Age 51 Sweep, Next Steps Age 32 Sweep, MCS Age 23 Sweep
- comparisons of multiple CLS cohorts
- use of CLS’s harmonised datasets: harmonised fertility histories, harmonised data on diabetes, or harmonised data on asthma.
- use of linked administrative or geospatial data, or other novel data
- use of CLS genetic data, including polygenic scores.
Submission types
Abstracts could be:
- single paper
- poster
- symposium of 3-4 papers from different speakers that you will chair.
Contributors were allowed to make up to two submissions, under the following guidance:
- If you are proposing a symposium for which you are one of the named speakers, this will count as one submission.
- If you have already made two submissions, you cannot be included as a named speaker in another person’s symposium.
Terms and conditions
Contributors agreed to abide by CLS’s terms and conditions for conference submissions.
