The Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) study is a nation-wide research project funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). ECHO researchers are interested in discovering how the environment can impact child health and wellbeing.

The ECHO program focuses on the following key health outcomes: pregnancy and birth, lung health , brain development, nutrition and body weight, and overall wellbeing. All of the information and samples that you and your child provide will give ECHO valuable information about one or more of those health outcomes.

The ECHO study looks at “environmental influences” that affect child health. What do you mean when you say “environment” in this context?

The ECHO study consists of many separate research sites across the United States. ECHO Boston is a collection of research sites that collects information and samples from residents living in the Greater Boston area. The ECHO Boston team includes research scientists, medical professionals, and research staff. Click here to learn more about the ECHO Boston team.

We value your participation! By participating in ECHO Boston, you are contributing to a nationwide study on child health and wellbeing. You are providing researchers with valuable scientific information on pregnancy, parenthood, and childhood, and the environment that surrounds us all. You are helping ECHO scientists develop better healthcare practices, programs, and policies. With your collaboration, we hope to create a healthier, safer world for your children.

During your prenatal participation, you will receive up to $75 deposited onto a ClinCard (reloadable debit card). For each completed childhood research visit, as a thank-you for your participation, you can receive up to $100 in Target e-gift cards. We will also pay for your parking for the entire day or reimburse your public transit costs.

At your prenatal and perinatal visits, medical professionals will be present to answer your questions and provide medical advice. These visits are built into your regular appointments at either Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center or Bowdoin Street Health Center.

After the birth of your baby, you can expect to work with our dedicated team of ECHO Boston research assistants at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute. The ECHO Boston research assistants are educated, trained professionals who are passionate about improving child health outcomes. However, the HPHCI research assistants are not doctors and cannot provide medical advice to you or your child. Please contact your child’s pediatrician with any questions or concerns you may have about your child.

You can read more about the ECHO Boston research staff here.

No. ECHO is an observational study, meaning that we simply collect data and look for connections. The ECHO Boston staff will not ask participants to test new drugs or medical treatments.

The ECHO study began in 2016. ECHO Boston began recruiting pregnant participants in 2024 at Beth Israel. At the current moment, we have over 100 ECHO pregnancies and over 50 ECHO babies.

In general, ECHO scientists use the samples to look for hormones, nutrients, chemicals, and other environmental exposures. We can learn about the food you eat, the water you drink, and the environment you live in using these samples. Your samples help the ECHO study understand how genes and the environment work together to influence children’s growth and development.

During the 0-5 month visit, we may request the following samples:

• Child urine, stool, and blood spot

• Maternal blood spot, hair, and saliva

Blood and saliva samples can provide genetic information and help identify genes associated with health conditions. Urine samples can provide the ECHO study with insights about chemical exposures and how the body reacts to harmful chemicals. Stool samples help ECHO researchers understand the bacteria that reside in the digestive system. Finally, ECHO researchers use hair samples to study nutritional deficiencies and exposure to harmful chemicals.