1000 Norms Project

The 1000 Norms Project is a ground-breaking research project of great national and international interest. An initiative of leading researchers at The University of Sydney, the 1000 Norms Project will improve our understanding of the range of normal variation in the healthy population.

Health is difficult to define and measure. There is a great deal of variation among the healthy population as no two individuals are the same. Healthy people differ in many ways, such as how they function physically. In healthcare, knowledge of normal function in the healthy population is essential for clinicians to diagnose disease, direct treatment, and evaluate progress. Physical assessments and self-report measures provide an invaluable tool for clinicians to assess health and function. At present there is little information regarding normal values for many common clinical assessments.

We are currently collecting basic physical and health information from 1000 healthy individuals across the entire lifespan to help us identify the range of variation in the healthy population. We are also investigating the “gene for speed” in the healthy population and hope to better understand the link between genetics and physical characteristics.

Results from the Project will be entered into a database that will be freely shared to researchers and clinicians worldwide via secure online portal.