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Birth Defect Research for Children Inc.
Founded in 1982 to “provide birth defect information to parents and to investigate the causes of birth defects that could have been prevented,” Birth Defect Research for Children (BDRC) is making a huge difference in the battle against birth defects. In 2002, BDRC was placed on the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine’s Top Ten Health Charities List.
Recently, BDRC developed and sponsors the National Birth Defect Registry, which collects data on over 300 categories of birth defects and developmental disabilities. Information is also recorded on prenatal and pre-conceptual exposures of the mother and pre-conceptual exposures of the fathers. These data are analyzed to identify clusters of birth defects that may be associated with parental exposure to many different environmental agents. The registry collects information from parents using an online questionnaire developed by a panel of scientific experts that now make up BDRC’s Scientific Advisory Board.
The National Birth Defect Registry is helping in the fight against birth defects in local areas across the country. After the residents of one small town noticed a suspiciously high incidence of babies with a specific birth defect, BDRC used the registry to show that the town’s water supply was to blame. The subsequent clean-up saved untold future children from harm. This episode is a perfect example of why research that focuses on humans is so vital to the battle against birth defects.
In the past few years, BDRC has become extensively involved in issues relating to the children of military veterans. Findings from the National Birth Defect Registry have been presented to the National Academy of Science Committee to Review Health Effects in Vietnam Veterans and Their Children as well as the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illnesses and have been featured in numerous national media forums. BDRC is now collaborating with the University of Texas Southwestern in a case-control study of the children of Gulf War veterans.
The Orlando, Fla.-based organization provides informational publications and telephone counseling to new and expectant parents about a variety of birth defects, especially those caused by environmental exposures. BDRC also publishes a daily news feed featuring the latest news on national birth defect issues and provides a matching service to facilitate community support for parents.
BDRC is also at the forefront of birth defect prevention. They have added a new 40-page, medically reviewed section to their Web site called The Healthy Baby Resource. Here, visitors can find out everything about how to have a healthier baby.
For more information, visit www.birthdefects.org.
Humane Charity Spotlight Archive
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