DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The purpose of this proposal is to request funds to continue the New York State `s Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention (NYCBDRP). This includes three major activities: 1) the continuance and expansion of the epidemiological research capability of the NYCBDRP through participation in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) including timely maternal interviews, clinical reviews, collection of biologic specimens and transmission of data to CDC; and 2) the utilization, implementation, and evaluation of the surveillance data for local and collaborative studies into birth defects research; 3) to continue develop local and collaborative studies to examine genetic and environmental factors in birth defects and quality of care issues for children with birth defects which will result in reports, publications in peer review journals and presentations.

Nationwide, congenital malformations are the leading cause of death among infants in the first year of life, about 4% of all live born infants have a major birth defect. Not all children die, many who live have resulting morbidity and disability, high health care costs and families may face large burdens both personal and financial. Over 60% of birth defects are of unknown origin, recent developments, such as folic acid, hold out the promise of preventing birth defects. The NBDPS combines epidemiology with the rapidly expanding knowledge of biomarkers, genetics and cell regulation at the molecular level offer an unprecedented opportunity to explore the etiology of birth defects and the interaction of environment and genetic susceptibility