NICHD Cooperative Multicenter Neonatal Research Network

描述（由申请人提供）：爱荷华州卡弗医学院新生儿科提交本申请，以成为NICHD合作多中心新生儿研究网络（RFAHD-04-010）的参与中心。我们的新生儿重症监护室每年收治750至800名婴儿，其中包括350至500名先天性婴儿。 在过去三年中，入院人数一直在增加，在2004财政年度，我们有808人入院，包括447名先天婴儿。爱荷华州大学新生儿科部为该网络提供了四项特殊优势。 1.我们的临床卓越与结果在世界上最好的。我们的极低出生体重儿的标准化死亡率在佛蒙特州牛津网络中常年处于最低（最好）的15%之列。2.我们在新生儿和婴儿临床研究方面的悠久传统和重要贡献的记录。我们有一个强大的基础设施进行和支持临床研究和生产力的良好记录。 3.我们在遗传学领域的能力和我们现有的爱荷华州围产期研究DNA库。该数据库成立于1999年，包含近3000份DNA样本和相应的流行病学数据。这些样本和数据正用于研究影响疾病发生和演变的遗传因素。我们的DNA库是第一个全面尝试收集所有在医院出生的婴儿DNA的例子之一。我们相信，这种创新资源具有巨大的潜力，可以揭开婴儿期面临的许多健康问题的基础，其中许多问题具有终身影响。4.作为一个主要以农业为基础的农村国家中唯一的学术医疗中心，我们代表了目前在NICHD网络中没有很好代表的人口。此外，由于对畜牧业的经济和个人兴趣，衣阿华州人对妇幼保健的重要性有着异乎寻常的深刻理解，由于对农业的兴趣，衣阿华州人对遗传学的力量和重要性也有着深刻的理解。申请研究者和机构坚定地致力于多中心临床试验的概念，将其作为评估新疗法的最有力工具，我们将完全赞同该网络的愿景。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Division of Neonatology of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine submits this application to become a participating center in the NICHD Cooperative Multicenter Neonatal Research Network (RFAHD-04-010). Our NICU admits between 750 and 800 infants per year, including 350 to 500 inborn infants. The number of admissions has been increasing in the past 3 years, and in fiscal year 2004, we had 808 admissions, including 447 inborn infants. The University of Iowa, Division of Neonatology offers four special strengths to the Network. 1. Our clinical excellence with outcomes among the best in the world. Our standardized mortality ratio for very-low-birth-weight infants is perennially among the lowest (best) 15% in the Vermont Oxford Network. 2. Our strong tradition and track record of important contributions in clinical research in neonates and infants. We have a robust infrastructure for the conduct and support of clinical research and a strong track record of productivity. 3. Our capabilities in the area of genetics and our existing Iowa Perinatal Research DNA Bank. Founded in 1999, this bank contains nearly 3000 DNA samples and corresponding epidemiological data. These samples and data are being used in research examining the genetic factors that influence the occurrence and evolution of disease. Our DNA bank was one of the first examples of a comprehensive attempt to collect DNA from all infants born in a hospital. We believe this innovative resource has tremendous potential for unraveling the basis of many health problems faced in infancy, many with lifelong implications. 4. As the only academic medical center in a largely rural state with an economy based in agriculture, we represent a population that is currently not well represented in the NICHD Network. Moreover, lowans have an unusually sophisticated appreciation for the importance of maternal and child health, derived from their economic and personal interest in animal husbandry, lowans also have a sophisticated appreciation for the power and importance of genetics, derived from their agricultural interests. The applicant investigators and institution are firmly committed to the concept of multicenter clinical trials as the most powerful tool for evaluating new therapies, and we will fully subscribe to the Network's vision.