The National Children’s Study has a number of features that make it unique:

• The Study is national in scope—Unlike other health studies, the National Children’s Study includes children and families from different areas of the country, from varied backgrounds, and of different family types, to allow investigation of issues important to the diverse U.S. population.
• The Study takes a broad approach to “environment”—This Study includes the wide range of biological, physical, genetic, social, cultural, and other factors comprising a child’s environment that can affect health and development.
• The Study is long-term in design—This Study is called a longitudinal study because it collects information on the same people from before birth into adulthood. By following children and families for 21 years or more, the Study will collect information about health at different ages or stages of growth and in various situations, and will shed light on the factors that influence health and development as people grow.
• Results will be made public as the Study progresses—Even though the Study will span more than 20 years, the world won’t have to wait until after 2025 for results. National Children’s Study researchers will begin to analyze information as soon as it is collected. As the children enrolled in the Study reach certain developmental milestones, the National Children’s Study will release its findings on these milestones. These results may lead to new questions about children’s health and the environment that can be answered later in the course of the Study.
• The Study involves partners from multiple government agencies, as well as from public organizations and private companies—Rather than taking directions from a specific agency, industry, or company, the National Children’s Study relies on a unique, overarching partnership with many components. Federal, state, and local agencies, universities, academic and professional societies, medical centers, communities, organizations, industries, companies, and other private groups all play vital roles in this partnership. The partners are involved in advising on various phases of the Study , from its design, to its conclusion, to ensure that the results are accurate, unbiased, and reliable.
• The Study uses state-of-the-art technology—By using the most up-to-date, cutting-edge services, programs, and communications methods available, the Study will provide the most accurate and reliable results possible. These technologies will help to track the progress of children and families, ensure that measurements are taken accurately, manage information collected in the Study, and maintain communication between all those involved in the Study for 21 years or more.
• The Study examines many questions— Unlike other studies that are trying to answer a single question related to health and development, the National Children’s Study addresses multiple questions on multiple issues, to provide as much information as possible on health and development. Some example questions are:
  
  
  • Can very early exposure to some allergens actually help children remain asthma-free?
  • How do genes and the environment interact to promote or prevent violent behavior in teenagers?
  • Are lack of exercise and poor diet the only reasons why many children are overweight?
  • Do infections impact developmental progress, asthma, obesity, and heart disease?
  • How do city and neighborhood planning and construction encourage or discourage injuries?

The first phase of the National Children’s Study was devoted to planning. Now the Study is in the implementation phase with the release of the Study Plan, the locations across the United States where the Study will be conducted, and the contract awards for the Vanguard Centers and Coordinating Center.