IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network

As a part of the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) initiative, the National institutes of Health (NIH) recognized the need for more representation of individuals from rural areas. To help address this need, the NIH has two types of research in the ECHO program.

  • Observational: understand what influences children's health as they grow and develop.
  • Intervention: test how much making changes in children's lives will enhance their health.

This is how the IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network (ISPCTN) came in to provide more opportunities to individuals, specifically children, to have better access to clinical research.

Led by Amy Elliott, PhD and Katherine Wang, MD, Avera Research Institute joined the network in the second cycle of funding and became one of 18 sites across the country to participate in the network. Since joining ISPCTN, we have become involved in network activities such as Dr. Elliott sitting on the leadership committee and participating as a site for several studies, including a Diversity Supplement. 

Site Participation by State

Through the ECHO network, many sites participate in either the ECHO observational cohort or ISPCTN. However, the Avera Research Institute team is one of only a few who are participating in both types of research of the ECHO program.

It is important to the ARI team to have both the Observation and Intervention study opportunities in our area.