UCLA to lead local study center in landmark government study of ch...(cent the study would pay for itself many...),Health

The University of California is well-represented in the study and will contribute much-needed expertise. In addition to UCLA, other new study centers were awarded to UC Irvine (for San Diego and San Bernardino counties, to go along with the existing Vanguard Center for Orange County) and UC Davis (for Sacramento and San Mateo counties). With the collaboration between the lead UC centers and additional sites, it is projected that more than 10,000 Californians will be enrolled in the study.

When fully funded, the study will be conducted in 105 study locations across the United States. A national probability sample was used to select the counties in the study, which will be representative of the U.S. population as a whole.

The National Childrens Study began in response to the Childrens Health Act of 2000, when Congress directed the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and other federal agencies to undertake a long-term national study of childrens health and development in relation to environmental exposures. A group of more than 2,000 scientists from across the U.S. have been designing and planning the study for the past six years.

Todays announcement of the new study centers follows earlier study milestones, including the 2004 announcement of the 105 study locations and the establishment of the seven Vanguard centers in 2005.

We urge the public to watch out for future announcements about the National Childrens Study and opportunities to enroll children from Los Angles County starting in 2009 and Ventura County at a later date, said co-principal investigator, Dr. Calvin Hobel, who is vice chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and holds the Miriam Jacobs Chair in Maternal-Fetal Medicine. This is a historic and once-in-a lifetime opportunity that will advance our understanding of the causes and prevention o
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