Children's Health Data Project

Researchers aim to gather comprehensive data on factors affecting children's health.
On the front of its Science Times section, the New York Times (2/16, D1, Belluck) reports that the National Children's Study, which is "the largest, most comprehensive long-term study of the health of children," aims to examine "100,000 pregnant women in 105 countries" and "monitor their babies until they turn 21." Researchers "will examine how environment, genes, and other factors affect children's health." Dr. Francis S. Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health, "which is overseeing the study," said the study is "important...for identifying factors that may play a role downstream in adult health." But, some critics say the study "misses important opportunities to help people" by "emphasizing narrower medical questions."