Turner, SteveCustovic, AdnanGhazal, PeterGrigg, JonathanGore, MindyHenderson, JohnLloyd, Clare M.Marsland, BenPower, Ultan F.Roberts, GrahamSaglani, SejalSchwarze, JürgenShields, MichaelBush, Andrew2018-07-312018-07-312018-05-17Turner, S, Custovic, A, Ghazal, P, Grigg, J, Gore, M, Henderson, J, Lloyd, C M, Marsland, B, Power, U F, Roberts, G, Saglani, S, Schwarze, J, Shields, M & Bush, A 2018, 'Pulmonary epithelial barrier and immunological functions at birth and in early life - key determinants of the development of asthma? A description of the protocol for the Breathing Together study', Wellcome open research, vol. 3, 60. https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.14489.12398-502Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/2164/10836Acknowledgements The authors are indebted to the participants and parents who have already been recruited. We also acknowledge the enthusiasm and endeavour of the research nurse team which includes: Stephen Main, Margaret Connon, Catherine Beveridge, Julie Baggott, Kay Riding, Ellie McCamie, Maria Larsson, Lynda Melvin, Mumtaz Idris, Tara Murray, Nicky Tongue, Nicolene Plaatjies, Sheila Mortimer, Sally Spedding, Susy Grevatt, Victoria Welch, Morag Zelisko, Jillian Doherty, Jane Martin, Emma Macleod and Cilla Snape. We are also delighted to be working alongside the following colleagues in laboratories: Marie Craigon, Marie McWilliam, Maria Zarconi, Judit Barabas, Lindsay Broadbent, Ceyda Oksel and Sheerien Manzoor. Grant information The study is supported by the Wellcome Trust [108818]; and the PHA HSC R&D Division, Northern Ireland.996214engasthmachildepithelial cellgeneticsinfantlongitudinal studieslymphocytemicrobiomeribonucleic acidRJ PediatricsWellcome Trust108818RJJournal article10.12688/wellcomeopenres.14489.13