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Collaborative research and research training through the "Family and Children of Ukraine" research program
D O Hryhorczuk1, S Monaghan, E Lukyanova
1Division of Occupational Medicine, Cook County Hospital, 720 South Wolcott Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Insights
The Family and Children in Ukraine study tracks pregnancy outcomes and child development in 8,000 women. This international collaboration focuses on environmental health for mothers and children.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Maternal and Child Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The Family and Children in Ukraine study is the Ukrainian arm of the European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood.
- It is a prospective, geographically-based cohort study involving 8,000 women across five Ukrainian cities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate pregnancy outcomes.
- To follow a cohort of births through seven years of age.
- To investigate environmental and occupational health factors impacting mothers and children.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, geographically-based cohort study design.
- International collaboration between Ukrainian and U.S. institutions (University of Illinois Fogarty program).
- Adoption of an internationally-endorsed research protocol with strict quality control and an in-country data management center.
Main Results:
- The study focuses on environmental health, a shared priority for Ukraine and the U.S.
- Key success factors include a long-term research commitment and a standardized protocol.
- The collaboration aims to provide valuable data on maternal and child health in Ukraine.
Conclusions:
- The Family and Children in Ukraine study is a significant international research endeavor.
- Successful collaboration relies on shared priorities, standardized protocols, and dedicated data management.
- Long-term investment is crucial for addressing environmental and occupational health challenges in maternal and child populations.
Abstract:
Family and Children of Ukraine, the Ukrainian component of the European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood, is a prospective, geographically-based study to evaluate pregnancy outcomes in 8,000 women in five cities in Ukraine and follow the cohort of births through 7 years of age. Family and Children in Ukraine has been the major collaborative research project for the University of Illinois' Fogarty-funded program, International Training and Research in Environmental and Occupational Health. This Fogarty program includes graduate training, U.S.-based training of visiting scientists, in-country training, and collaborative in-country research. Factors that have contributed to the success of the collaboration include: 1) its focus on the environmental health of mothers and children, which is a priority goal for both countries; 2) the adoption of an internationally-endorsed research protocol with strict quality-control criteria, specifically designed for international collaboration; 3) the establishment of an in-country data management center; and 4) the investment in a long-term research program rather than a short-term study. The major obstacles have been the difficult economic situation in Ukraine, which limits in-country research investment, and the difficulty in obtaining U.S. funding for an international research program.