{"id":524,"date":"2026-06-04T15:16:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T14:16:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/pbs\/?page_id=524"},"modified":"2026-06-04T15:16:38","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T14:16:38","slug":"nomad","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/pbs\/research\/health-data\/nomad\/","title":{"rendered":"Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in the Offspring of Males Taking Antiseizure Medication"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section – Main Menu” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#0071b3″ min_height=”38px” max_height=”150px” custom_margin=”||-20px||false|false” custom_padding=”5px||0px||false|false” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”81px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_menu menu_id=”7″ active_link_color=”#ffffff” admin_label=”Menu – Research” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” menu_text_color=”#FFFFFF” menu_font_size=”18px” background_color=”#0071b3″ background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_menu][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section – Project Menu” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#00539b” min_height=”4px” custom_margin=”0px||-26px|||” custom_padding=”5px||5px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” max_height=”201px” custom_margin=”|auto||auto|false|false” custom_padding=”5px||25px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ admin_label=”Column” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_menu menu_id=”12″ active_link_color=”#FFFFFF” admin_label=”Menu – Project per Research Area” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” menu_font=”PT Sans|300|||||||” menu_font_size=”18px” background_color=”#00539b” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”-3px||-24px|||” custom_padding=”0px||1px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_tablet=”content:’Navigation’;” custom_css_main_element_phone=”content:’Navigation’;”][\/et_pb_menu][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section – Breadcrumbs” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”25px||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-50px|auto||auto|false|false” custom_padding=”10px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][lwp_divi_breadcrumbs home_text=”PBS” font_icon=”5||divi||400″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” module_font=”||||||||” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/lwp_divi_breadcrumbs][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Title Section – WHITE” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”-110px||||false|false” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”|700|||||||” title_font_size=”45px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row – Change column to 100% if NO image” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Intro text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_4_line_height=”1.2em” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>NOMAD<\/span><\/b>\u00a0study aims to\u00a0determine\u00a0whether paternal use of sodium valproate is associated with an increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. This follows guidance from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) restricting valproate use in men under 55, based on conflicting evidence from pre-clinical studies and European population data.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We will use the Electronic Data Research and Innovation Service (eDRIS) to conduct a population-based retrospective cohort study in Scotland, linking parental health records to child developmental data. Participants are children born in Scotland between 2010 and 2022 whose parents were dispensed antiseizure medications around the time of conception. No direct recruitment is\u00a0required\u00a0as we will use existing linked administrative health records, including birth records, prescribing data, and Child Health Surveillance Programme developmental assessments, all conducted within the\u00a0eDRIS\u00a0Safe Haven.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our methods include record linkage and statistical analysis comparing developmental outcomes across four groups: children exposed to paternal sodium valproate, maternal sodium valproate, other antiseizure medications, and unexposed controls, covering approximately 280,000 births. Results will directly inform clinical practice and regulatory decision-making by the MHRA and European Medicines Agency.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”PI Section – GREY” _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f1f1f1″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_3_font=”|700|||||||” header_3_font_size=”33px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Team<\/h3>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” disabled_on=”on|on|on” disabled=”on”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Prof Colin McCowan” url=”https:\/\/research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk\/en\/persons\/colin-mccowan” image=”https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/pbs-draft\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2024\/04\/20240412-ColinMcCowan.png” alt=”Alun Hughes” icon_placement=”left” admin_label=”Blurb – CM” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|700|||on||||” header_text_color=”#0071b3″ header_font_size=”22px” border_radii_image=”on|100px|100px|100px|100px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Head of Division<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Mr Benedict Leonard-Hawkead” url=”https:\/\/research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk\/en\/persons\/benedict-leonard-hawkhead\/” image=”https:\/\/medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk\/pbs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/66\/2026\/06\/Benedict.jpg” alt=”Profile photo of Sarah Mills.” icon_placement=”left” admin_label=”Blurb – BLH” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|700|||on||||” header_text_color=”#0071b3″ header_font_size=”22px” border_radii_image=”on|100px|100px|100px|100px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Research Fellow in Medical Statistics\/Health Data Science<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – CoInvestigators” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Co-Investigators<\/strong><\/h2>\n