Community, voluntary sector and health workers have met with the leaders of a major international study to find out how they can help get the whole city engaged in ground-breaking Bradford research.

Born in Bradford is a project designed to try to find out the causes of diseases and how they can be prevented.

The lives of around 10,000 babies born in the city over 2007 and 2008 will be tracked from pregnancy, through childhood, until they become adults.

It is the first time a study of this type has been attempted on such a large scale and the findings will have international significance and help shape health services in the future.

Professor Neil Small, of the University of Bradford, and Born in Bradford project manager, Dr Pauline Raynor, met with workers from Bradford Council, Sure Start, tenants' groups and Neighbourhood Forum representatives to explain more about the work, which is due to start recruiting women in the autumn.

The meeting, held in the conference room at Field House, Bradford Royal Infirmary, heard from Prof Small how important it was to seek the support of the community to ensure the project was a success.

"We need your views if we are going to maximise the chance of making a difference to the lives of people in Bradford, " he said.

Bradford has a higher than average death rate among babies, a trend which is rising. Nationally the rate is falling.

"We need to get to grips with why our babies are dying more often and are sicker than babies in other areas, " added Prof Small.

Dr Raynor told the meeting how parents would be recruited and what data would be collected and when. She said key challenges would be raising the necessary funds for the project - estimated to be around £3million - and to keep the community engaged with the project.

Up to £1million will be raised through a community fundraising campaign being supported by the Telegraph & Argus.

"This will be a community project that cannot go ahead without the support of the whole community which is why you have been invited here today to hear more about it, " she said.

The meeting heard that other problems could be parents dropping out of the project and the successful installation of a new data collection system.

In a question and answer session following the presentation concerns raised by the audience included how patient confidentiality would be maintained and how people who do not have English as a first language will be given information about the project.

Kal Nawaz, who works in the Early Years and Childcare Service for Bradford Council, was one of those who attended the meeting.

She said: "I think it is long over due for us to have a focus on children. It is a shame that we will miss Keighley as those babies will be born in Airedale Hospital.

"But this is a really wide-ranging study and a great opportunity for the people of Bradford.

"I hope it will be able to give us insight into why we are experiencing an increase in the number of children with emotional, behavioural and mental health problems."

Peter Sale attended the meeting as a member of the board of governors of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

He said his initial doubts about the project - such as how patient confidentiality would be maintained - had now been dispelled.

"As long as it is run carefully - and it seems that it is going to be - I cannot see any problems with it, " he said.