The Child Health Research Center (CHRC)

The Child Health Research Center

Transforming discoveries into lifelong wellbeing for children and communities.

Learn about CHRC

Our Vision

We envision a future where every child, regardless of background or circumstance, can achieve optimal health and well-being. The Child Health Research Center aims to bring together cutting-edge research from different disciplines to tackle complex child health problems and transform scientific discoveries to real world applications.

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The Need for Child Health Research

Children’s health and wellbeing are the foundation for a successful life, but we still don’t fully understand all the factors—like biology, behavior, environment, and social conditions—that affect their health. Research on important issues like mental health, child development, obesity, disabilities, and family support is often scattered and not well connected, making it hard to turn findings into real-world solutions.

Overcoming Challenges to Children's Health & Wellbeing

Despite progress, many preventable health problems like low birth weight, obesity, asthma, developmental delays, and mental health issues are still common and are especially worse for children in low-income, rural, minority, or disabled communities. Unequal access to healthcare, early help, and education adds to these lifelong challenges.

Nearly 40%

of U.S. children's daily caloric intake is from added sugars and solid fats.

30-40%

of U.S. children experience some form of maltreatment by the time they are 18

3 million

children in the U.S. are living with a disability impacting cognition, hearing, mobility, vision, or self-care

Generating Solutions that Empower Families & Communities

To help every child grow up healthy and strong, research needs to look at the whole picture of child health—including physical, mental, and emotional well-being—and involve parents, families, and communities as key partners in making change happen. Our dedicated Child Health Research Center helps bring these pieces together, using the latest research and teamwork across different fields to create better outcomes for children and families—locally and globally.