Abstract
[Excerpt] Pediatric health is the cornerstone of the nation’s well-being. to: Increases in the U.S. average lifespan during the 20th century were in great part due to declines in child mortality from increased public health and sanitation and decreased infectious diseases, prematurity, trauma, cancer, and other health issues. These advances would never have happened without the significant and consistent federal investment in pediatric research, supported as a whole or in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Children today have more opportunities for health and longevity than at any point in history. Yet rising rates of chronic conditions, including obesity, anxiety, and other health challenges, signal that this progress is uneven and fragile. As a leader in supporting pediatric research, NIH has an opportunity to illuminate how rapidly evolving exposures and experiences shape child health trajectories. Through pediatric research investment, NIH can generate actionable knowledge that empowers families, clinicians, and communities to foster resilience, prevent disease, and optimize lifelong health. This report offers recommendations for how NIH, with the support of Congress, can best support research in pediatric health and improve the health of American children and individuals throughout the life course.