“The March of Dimes is extremely pleased with the decision to include $69 million for the National Children's Study (NCS) in the FY 2007 continuing resolution.  Approval of this funding level will allow NIH to fully fund implementation of the study. The NCS will track the health status of 100,000 children from their mother's pregnancy to 21 years of age.   The NCS will be one of the richest information resources available to researchers studying a broad array of pediatric diseases and conditions, and early data collected will provide information that can help scientists better understand, and perhaps even solve, the growing problem of premature birth.”

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language Web site at nacersano.org.