The Los Angeles-Ventura Study Center
Welcome to the Los Angeles-Ventura Study Center (LAVSC) of the National Children's Study. The LAVSC is implementing the National Children’s Study in Los Angeles County and Ventura County.
Goals of the National Children's Study
The goal of the Study is to improve the health and well-being of children. To do this, the National Children’s Study will examine the effects of environmental influences on the health and development of 100,000 children across the United States, following them from before birth until age 21 years.
Update on Study Enrollment
As of March 1, 2012 the National Children's Study successfully completed enrollment for the pilot phase of the Study. It is with your help that we have reached this very important first goal of enrolling thousands of families from throughout the country, including Los Angeles County.
In the months ahead, the Study will focus its resources and attention on retaining the families who have joined the Study and gathering participant data. The Study provides each participant with a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of future generations of children. While we are not currently enrolling new participants in the study, there may be opportunities to take part in future Study research, so please look for additional information via the National Children's Study e-newsletter, web or social media outlets. If you would like more information about the National Children's Study, please call us toll free at 877-834-7064.
Uniqueness of the National Children's Study
The Study is unique because it includes children and families from different areas of the country, from varied backgrounds and different family types. The Study will represent the nation’s children and will provide information to help researchers better understand children’s health throughout Los Angeles County and across the nation, including topics such as birth defects, asthma, obesity, diabetes, learning and behavioral disorders, injuries, and many others.
Children are not simply "little adults." Their young bodies often make them more vulnerable than adults to environmental exposures. Young children interact with the environment differently. They spend more time on the ground, close to dust, soil, and other elements of the environment, and scientists do not have a strong understanding about how these factors affect children's health and development. For example, research findings on the effects of lead on child development and findings on the impact of maternal alcohol use on the fetus have emphasized the need for studies that examine the impact of environmental factors on children’s health.
Selection of Los Angeles
Los Angeles County was chosen for the National Children’s Study because of our location, the people who live here, and the number of children born here each year. Including Los Angeles County in the National Children’s Study ensures that the Study represents all of America’s children.
Leading the National Children's Study in Los Angeles & Ventura Counties
Based at the UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families & Communities and in close association with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the University of Southern California, the LAVSC is a cooperative effort joining universities, community groups, local health departments, and hospitals.