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An exhibition of photographs by Ian Beesley, course leader for the MA in International Photojournalism, Documentary and Travel Photography, is being held at Bradford 1 Gallery |until early August.

The photographs have been taken as part of Born in Bradford, a groundbreaking research programme in which 10,000 babies, born in the city between 2006 and 2009, will be tracked from birth, through childhood, until they become adults.

Ian was appointed artist in residence for the project in 2008 and has been taking photos of parents, especially fathers, and their babies. He has also been working to engage the local community in the project, explain its aims, raise its profile and encourage participation, ownership and understanding of the medical research behind the study.

The aim of Born in Bradford is to collate a wide range of information about babies born in the city, which has high levels of illness and disease and the highest infant mortality rate in the UK. This information will then be used to help in the understanding, and prevention, of illness and disease affecting both children and adults.

Ian said: 'This has been a rewarding residency and also, quite probably, one of the most challenging due to the complexity of the issues involved and the sheer size of the research programme. I am already working on the second stage of the project, which will involve visiting Marpur in Pakistan to photograph families there as many Asian families in Bradford come from in and around that region.'

Ian has been working closely with the medical research team and the midwifery staff at Bradford Royal Infirmary. He has also received a major arts council grant for the project in addition to support from Bradford City Art Galleries and Museums and the University of Bolton.