A prospective cohort study is a type of research study that follows a group of individuals over a period of time to observe how certain factors, such as lifestyle habits, environmental exposures, or genetic predispositions, may impact the development of a particular health outcome or disease. Participants are enrolled before the onset of the outcome of interest, and data is collected periodically to track changes in health status and determine potential risk factors. Prospective cohort studies are useful for establishing causal relationships between risk factors and health outcomes, and can provide valuable information for developing prevention and intervention strategies.