Ways ECHO Investigators Conduct Important Research on How Maternal Health, Exposures, and Habits Influence Child Health

Posted on by Jodi Snare

ECHO has already produced several exciting publications so far this year, many of which have amassed media attention. The year is off to a great start for the ECHO Program. In the March 2024 ECHO Connector, we focus on the ways ECHO investigators are conducting important research on how maternal health, exposures, and habits influence child health. Learn about two recent research articles, one of which reports on ECHO Cohort studies of chemical exposure and the other on the benefits of early breastfeeding, in the News You Can Use section.

In the January ECHO Connector, I highlighted the public availability of de-identified ECHO data and new NIH funding opportunities for the intervention research arm of ECHO. Both are important to the future success of the ECHO Program. Here are more details:

  • De-identified data from the ECHO Cohort are available to any qualified researcher through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Development (NICHD) Data and Specimen Hub (DASH). This resource, containing data from over 60,000 ECHO Cohort participants, allows members of the broad scientific community to answer important research questions about the origins of child health outcomes. Learn more about this dataset and how to request access.
  • The ECHO Program Office recently announced two Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for a third 5-year cycle of the ECHO Institutional Development Award (IDeA) States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network (ISPCTN). We also recently posted Frequently Asked Questions and prerecorded webinars regarding these opportunities. We welcome applications from entities/institutions in IDeA-eligible states to participate in the ECHO ISPCTN as either a Clinical Site or the Data Coordinating and Operations Center (DCOC). These awards will support state-of-the-art pediatric clinical trials in states with historically low rates of NIH funding. Applications are due April 15; please spread the word!

I’m glad the word is getting out about ECHO results, the fruits of efforts of hundreds of researchers and tens of thousands of participants. On behalf of the entire ECHO Program, I thank you for partnering with us to disseminate our research, which is enhancing the health of children for generations to come.

—Matthew W. Gillman, MD, SM