As staff at the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), we agree that participant involvement is crucial to the design of cohort studies (P. Lucas et al. Nature 514, 567; 2014). We work with an advisory panel composed of a large and representative selection of original cohort participants.

The panel provides regular, thoughtful feedback and advice to ALSPAC researchers about data-collection exercises. It comments on proposals, the appropriateness of questions, communications materials and channels, research findings and the burden on participants. This helps to improve our study and makes the broader cohort more likely to engage in our research.

We also host focus groups and online discussion forums with all segments of our cohort — mothers, fathers, siblings and young parents — and use Facebook and Twitter. ALSPAC is cited as an example of best social-media practice in guidelines from the UK National Institute for Health Research (see go.nature.com/txsxma).

We look for new ways to hear participants' views, on topics from our newsletters to a 2012 events programme (see Nature 484, 155–158; 2012). Devised by participants to mark their 21st birthdays, this included a science festival, a conference, parties for study children and parents, and a commemorative book.