March 28, 2011

National Children’s Study launched in Montgomery County

The National Children’s Study, led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, celebrated its launch at the inaugural Montgomery County Children’s Health Day, held Saturday in Gaithersburg, Md. The kickoff event featured family activities to promote infant and child health, overall wellness and health education.

The research project, housed at the university’s Montgomery County Campus in Rockville, Md., is part of the largest and most detailed study on children’s health and development in the United States.

The study will examine the effects of the environment and genetics on the growth, development and health of children across the U.S. and will follow participants from gestation until 21 years of age. Data will contribute to the research of conditions such as pre-term birth and chronic health conditions such as asthma, obesity and diabetes, as well as other health and behavior outcomes.

Montgomery County is one of 105 jurisdictions across the country selected to participate.