National Children’s Study (NCS) in the News
The American Medical Association (AMA) has sent out information to their membership about the national study being conducted to determine how environment affects children’s health. This study is being conducted in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties by Case Western Reserve University and has been endorsed by the AMCNO Board of Directors. Over the next four years, CWRU will enroll women who are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy in the near future. AMCNO past president, Dr. Laura David, is representing the AMCNO in this initiative. This is a historic National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded research study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Environmental Protection Agency. It is the first large-scale observational study aimed at understanding the role of prenatal and childhood environmental exposures and genetics which together influence lifelong health, development, and disease. This landmark study will eventually follow 100,000 children from the time their mothers are pregnant until age 21 years. The study will examine the effects of the environment, including such factors as air, water, diet, sound, family dynamics, genetics, and community and cultural influences on the growth, development and health implications on children across the United States.

If you, or a member of your office staff would like to schedule a meeting to discuss being directly involved in making the National Children’s Study a success, please call 216-881-0382. Over the coming months, representatives from the study will be making contact with practices to answer questions and drop off information for patients. The AMCNO encourages physicians to invite their patients to participate in the study and we are pleased to be mentioned on as a supporter of this study on the Case web site. To view information on the Case study visit http://www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov/studylocations/pages/cuyahoga.aspx