A National Agenda for America's Children and Adolescents in 2008: Recommendations From the 15th Annual Public Policy Plenary Symposium, Annual Meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies, May 3, 2008

Translational Research and Pediatrics

“…62 A large segment of the population would still not benefit because millions of people lack access to proper health care services or do not have timely and regular preventive and chronic care visits. 5,20,63 Furthermore, even if individuals receive timely health care visits and treatment, adherence to these recommendations is challenging, requiring substantial commitment, understanding of health issues, lifestyle changes, and investment. Systems are needed to help families with these critical steps.…”

“…117 Although total NIH spending on pediatric research has increased since 1993, the proportion of NIH funds for research that is devoted to pediatric research has actually decreased, from 13.1% in 1993 to 10.8% in 2008. 63 The proportion of AHRQ funding allocated to child healthrelated research is similar to that of NIH. 118 The proportion of all biomedical research that is devoted to pediatric translational research from other federal funders, foundations, or from industry is unknown.…”

“…An increasing body of evidence demonstrates that what happens in childhood affects the life course and health outcomes of adults. 63,[131][132][133] This necessitates a renewed focus on bringing discoveries to practice and the community as early during the lifespan as possible.…”

The Scientific Evidence for Child Health Insurance

“…35, 36 Health insurance is a critical first step, but by itself is not sufficient. 2 Further refinements are needed in each step from improved access, to optimal and efficient utilization of health care, to optimal receipt of health and related services, to combining effective health care with healthy behaviors and child-oriented environmental, community, and public health improvements.…”

The Inauguration of a New Term of Pediatric Endocrinology

“…Talks of “where were all the young ones gone,” lamenting the dwindling pipeline of young research talent, dominated the early part of the current decade. Such commentaries have now expanded to lament the fall of academic departments and entire disciplines [5, 6]. In pediatrics, research funding has dropped by substantial amounts over the past decade [5–7].…”