The National Institutes of Health offers the State of Michigan $57 million to expand its task regarding a research project to study children's physical condition.

The National Children's Study, by far the largest of its kind, focuses on finding out how children’s health is affected by factors such as the environment. No less than 100,000 children statewide will be examined. They will all be followed before birth until reaching the age of 21. Pregnant women will also be enrolled in the research.

"We look to provide new information that will help treat and perhaps even prevent" several childhood conditions, said Dr. Duane Alexander, director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

To conduct the incomparable national study, $3.2 billion will be paid. Additionally, an estimated $1.8 million will be given to Lamar County over five years in order to fund the massive research project. According to health officials, over $200 million have been already spent into its forming from 2000 to 2007.

The National Children's Study will imply examining air quality, water, dust and soil samples collected from the homes of those who will take part in the project. Moreover, following the birth, umbilical-cord blood and placenta will be taken in order to be analyzed by experts. After that, visits will be paid to babies’ and children’s homes, blood tests will be made and many other factors will be followed to see the manner in which they affect the development of health issues like asthma, autism, diabetes and obesity.