The National Children's Study 2014 An Assessment (2014) / Chapter Skim
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6 Study Leadership and Scientific Oversight
6 Study Leadership and Scientific Oversight
Pages 107-114
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From page 107... ...
has primary responsibility for planning and coordinating the NCS, and the NCS Website states that the NCS Program Office is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the NCS. The director of the NCS Program Office reports to the NICHD director and the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
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From page 108... ...
As the Vanguard Study was expanded, the steering committee was enlarged, and an executive steering committee was formed. The Program Office has also contracted for scientific expertise in particular areas, such as sample design and questionnaire content, through regular contract mechanisms, as well as through the establishment of various working group and committees.
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From page 109... ...
Thus, the panel is concerned that the Program Office may not have sufficient in-house expertise in relevant scientific and survey research disciplines2 to enable it to function effectively in using the input it receives from contractors and advisory groups for design and operational decisions for the NCS Main Study. Based on the material sent to the panel, the panel concludes that ongoing expertise is needed in sampling and weighting in longitudinal surveys, not only to draw the original sample, but also to deal with issues of attrition and missing data.
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From page 110... ...
Specifically, because of the complexity, cost, and scientific importance of the NCS and the wide range of expertise it requires in such areas as sampling, survey methods, environmental exposure measurement, health disparities and health phenotypes, the panel believes that an authoritative, multidisciplinary oversight structure for the NCS is required to ensure that the decisions of the Program Office are appropriately vetted in all relevant areas. In addition, the panel deems it critical that regular comprehensive reviews by an independent outside group, with appropriate multidisciplinary expertise, be conducted roughly every 3 years in order to ensure that the Main Study operates cost effectively to maximize the scientific utility of the information.
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From page 111... ...
Instead, we offer below some approaches for consideration in each area -- scientific expertise, oversight, and periodic outside review. Methodological and Substantive Expertise To develop a broader and deeper base of scientific expertise, the panel urges the NCS Program Office to consider ways and means to bring in outside scientists with relevant backgrounds and experience to supplement its inhouse staff.
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From page 112... ...
should consider and implement one or more approaches to enhance the scientific expertise of the National Children's Study (NCS) Program Office by recruiting experts in relevant fields from within the National Institute of Health, other federal agencies, and outside government.
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From page 113... ...
Such a committee should have unrestricted access to NCS processes and data that are the basis for study design decisions by the NCS Program Office. Either of the approaches to establishing an appropriate oversight structure just outlined would be responsive to the Children's Health Act of 2000.
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From page 114... ...
We know of no example in which a funding agency, such as NICHD, not only provides the funding for a survey but also controls the design decisions and overall operations with contracts for data collection and other functions. The NCS Program Office obtains advice from researchers and relevant federal agencies, but that advice is not binding for design or operational decisions.
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