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NCCOR: A decade of transforming the field of childhood obesity research

Launched in 2009, the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research (NCCOR) brought together the nation’s four largest childhood obesity research funders—CDC, NIH, USDA, and RWJF—in a public-private collaboration to accelerate progress in reducing childhood obesity. In the ensuing 10 years, NCCOR has transformed the field of childhood obesity research through strategic initiatives, comprehensive tools for researchers, and innovative rapid-response funding mechanisms, among other efforts.

To provide insights into its formation, operations, and accomplishments, NCCOR published two papers in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, released online today. The papers are accompanied by a commentary by senior leaders of NCCOR’s member organizations and an editorial by Dr. Jim Sallis, a member of NCCOR’s External Scientific Panel. A list of the papers and NCCOR’s 10 years of accomplishments can be found at www.nccor.org/accomplishments.

Developing A Partnership for Change: The National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research
The first paper, Developing A Partnership for Change: The National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research, highlights the formation, structure, and operations of NCCOR and discusses benefits of using a collaborative model to more quickly build a field of research. The paper aims to answer common queries from public health leaders seeking innovative approaches for understanding and addressing other complex public health problems. The paper also shares the benefits of NCCOR’s public-private research funder model, including optimizing the strategic use of partner resources, avoiding duplication of efforts, and jointly filling research gaps. http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(17)30712-2/fulltext

A National Collaborative for Building the Field of Childhood Obesity Research
The companion paper, A National Collaborative for Building the Field of Childhood Obesity Research, details several principles for successful partnerships and how NCCOR followed these principles to advance the field of childhood obesity research, evaluation, and surveillance. The paper highlights many of NCCOR’s accomplishments, including the development of three key tools for researchers—the Measures Registry, the Catalogue of Surveillance Systems, and the Youth Compendium of Physical Activities. http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(17)30738-9/fulltext

Research on Childhood Obesity: Building the Foundation for a Healthier Future
Griffin Rodgers, Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health; William Dietz, the former Director of the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, President Emerita and former CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, authored a commentary entitled Research on Childhood Obesity: Building the Foundation for a Healthier Future, in which they extol NCCOR’s ability to maximize efficiency and impact to advance each agency’s mission and efforts. Beyond collaborative projects, NCCOR has provided a venue for cross-agency collaboration that has been invaluable for furthering each organization’s agenda. http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(17)30711-0/fulltext

NCCOR’s work is not yet done. To explore NCCOR’s tools for researchers and learn more about NCCOR’s current initiatives, visit our website at www.nccor.org.

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