A 60-year study by academics at Newcastle University and medics into the health of local people was marked this week at a civic reception that brought together some of the original participants and those still researching the data. "The Thousand Families Study" was established by doctors at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Newcastle University. It began in 1947 with 1,142 babies born in the months of May and June, many of whom attended the mayoral reception.