Welcome to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) Study Center for the National Children’s Study. Located in west central Mississippi, Hinds County has a total area of 877 square miles — 869 square miles of land and 8 square miles of water. It is the home to Jackson, the state capital, and several other towns and cities which include: Clinton, Raymond, Bolton, Edwards, Learned, Terry, Utica, and Byram. The goal of the Study is to improve the health and well-being of children. To do this, it will examine the effects of environmental influences on the health and development of more than 100,000 children across the United States, following them from before birth until age 21.
Awarded in 2007, the UMMC Study Center combines the expertise and leadership of research organizations and community partners. UMMC is the administrative and research home for the UMMC Study Center and the Hinds County MS Study location. A team of researchers from UMMC is working together to plan and implement the Study at our Center. This team is made up of pediatricians, obstetricians, nurse researchers, public health researchers, statisticians, and data collection experts who have an interest in improving the health of families and their children. UMMC is excited to have the opportunity to manage the day-to-day operations for the Hinds County MS Study location, including data collection and community outreach and engagement activities.
Study scientists and researchers will examine environmental factors such as neighborhoods and schools, chemical exposures, family genetics, food, and water, as well as children's social and behavioral environments to try to pinpoint the root causes of many of today's major childhood diseases and disorders. What we learn in the Study will help determine not only which aspects of the environment are harmful, but also which are harmless or helpful to children’s health and development.