The National Children's Study
The National Children's Study aims to identify a national probability sample of 100,000 children, prior to or as early as possible in pregnancy, and follow them for 21 years to explore the causes of a variety of health problems including obesity, injuries, asthma, and developmental delays. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in collaboration with Duke University, Battelle Memorial Institute, and McMillan & Moss Research, proposes to serve as the North Carolina Study Center for the NCS to conduct the study in six counties in North Carolina - Buncombe, Burke, Cumberland, Durham (Primary Location), Gaston, and Rockingham Counties. Using 2005 estimates, these counties vary in population from 89,400 in Burke (973 births) to 304,500 in Cumberland (5399 births). Through household enumeration in selected sampling segments, we will seek participation to reach a goal of 250 live births per year per Study Location. We will work with prenatal care providers to identify and recruit women who are not identified through the household screening. Once identified and recruited, we will conduct a series of interviews, collect specimens and environmental samples, and conduct clinical evaluations according to standardized protocols. We will work with hospitals to obtain cord blood and placentas at the time of delivery and have neonatal examinations done. A key component to the success of the study will be community involvement. We will establish Community Advisory Boards in each county with representation of multiple facets of the community who can advise about special concerns of the community, segment refinement, publicizing the study, and strategies to recruit and retain study participants. The Senior Management Team will coordinate activities with the NIH Program Office, the Coordinating Center, and across the North Carolina sites to ensure high-quality data collection and participant retention.
Principal Investigators: Barbara Entwisle , Anna Maria Siega-Riz, Nancy Dole (Carolina Population Center)
CPC Fellow Investigators: Amy H. Herring , Andrew F. Olshan , John M. Thorp, Jr.
Funding Source: NIH NICHD
Grant Number: HHSN267200700049C
Funding Period: 10/1/2007 - 9/30/2012
Related CPC Signature Themes:
Affiliated Research Project:
