title: The case for a coordinating centre for birth cohort studies.
abstract: Designing, piloting and proceeding with a longitudinal birth cohort is a major exercise. Here we outline ways in which a resource centre could be initiated to provide advice and training, a library of appropriate instruments and publications, provision for cross-cohort comparisons and a biobanking facility. The resource should be available for cohorts planned in the developed and developing world, as well as those countries in transition. We discuss possible strategies for funding such a centre.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, Department of Community Based Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. jean.golding@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Golding
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000592:standards*; D007391:International Cooperation; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy