What is longitudinal cohort research and why is CPCHE recommending increased government support for it?
• Longitudinal cohort research involves tracking various determinants of health (e.g., socio-economic status, environmental exposures, diet) along with health outcomes in a group or cohort of individuals over time. Such research is essential for attaining a better understanding of how environment and other factors affect health and development. The United States has embarked on an ambitious longitudinal cohort study called the U.S. National Childrens Study. CPCHE notes that longitudinal research was among the top five recommendations of the federal Minister of Healths Advisor on Healthy Children and Youth, Dr. Kellie Leitch (see Box 8, p. 14). • In addition to urging greater overall investment in longitudinal research, CPCHE is calling on the federal government to approve funding to expand the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study so that the health of the babies born to participating mothers is tracked and evaluated over time (see Box 10, pp. 16-17). What o
