Call for Manuscripts

NBDPN Annual Report for 2016- to be published in Birth Defects Research, Part A (BDRA)

    The National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) will publish its 14th national report on birth defects surveillance and prevention in 2012.  As with the previous reports, the publication will comprise two parts: 1) a series of articles relating to various issues in surveillance, epidemiology, and the application of surveillance data to birth defects prevention and public health programs, and 2) statistical data from population-based surveillance programs across the United States.  Previous reports were published as Teratology 1997;56:1-176, 2000;61:1-160, 2001;64 Suppl 1:S1-S176, and 2002;66 Suppl 1:S1-S220, and as Birth Defects Research Part A (BDRA) 2003;67:595-822, 2004;68:553-772, 2005;73:645-855, 2006;76:745-960, 2007;79:729-944, 2008;82:743-829, 2009;85:873-938, 2010;88:1003-1174, and 2011;89:985-1149.
Manuscripts will be peer-reviewed and approved under BDRA guidelines.  They should adhere to the guidelines for preparation and submission as outlined below.  We are interested in manuscripts that utilize or evaluate birth defects surveillance data, use birth defects surveillance data in analytical epidemiological investigations or etiologic research, or apply these data to prevention or intervention programs.  Manuscripts may come from a single state, or from collaborative efforts and activities including both multi-state and international collaborations.  State-specific analyses of a specific birth defect or set of conditions should provide new observations or be hypothesis-driven with objectives and rationale for conducting the study clearly identifiable.
We are especially interested in manuscripts focusing on the following areas:
• Epidemiologic studies to increase knowledge of risk/protective factors and etiology of specific birth defects
• Using surveillance data to evaluate health promotion/birth defects prevention activities
• Statistical assessment (simple or complex) of birth defects rates and trends with new insights or observations, model approaches to monitoring and analysis of trends
• The effect a specific intervention may have on the survival/long-term outcomes of infants and children with specific birth defects
• Studies focused on congenital heart defects including critical CHDs and improving taxonomy of CHDs for epidemiologic and etiologic research.
• Epidemiologic methods for birth defects research
Please contact Dr. Russell Kirby (813-396-2347, rkirby@health.usf.edu) or Dr. Marilyn Browne (518-402-7974, mlb10@health.state.ny.us) for more information or for a consultation on topics under consideration.  Even if your idea falls outside the topical areas listed above, we would still like to talk with you about it.
Birth Defects Research Part A’s Instructions to Authors can be found at the following website: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1542-0760/homepage/ForAuthors.html.  We also request that each manuscript be accompanied by a cover letter including the names, addresses and telephone number or email address for at least two potential reviewers uninvolved with the current work who might be willing to provide an objective and unbiased review.  Manuscripts should have internal clearance, if required for agency submission, and be submitted online at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/bdr-wiley by Tuesday, May 1, 2012.  You must indicate in the note section that the manuscript is being submitted for consideration as part of the NBDPN Congenital Malformations Surveillance Report special issue.Due Date: Friday, April 29, 2016

The National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) will publish its 18th national report on birth defects surveillance and prevention in the November 2016 issue of BDRA.  As with the previous reports, the publication will comprise two parts: 1) a series of articles relating to various issues in surveillance, epidemiology, and the application of surveillance data to birth defects prevention and public health programs, and 2) statistical data from population-based surveillance programs across the United States.  Previous reports were published as Teratology 1997;56:1-176, 2000;61:1-160, 2001;64 Suppl 1:S1-S176, and 2002;66 Suppl 1:S1-S220, and as Birth Defects Research Part A (BDRA) 2003;67:595-822, 2004;68:553-772, 2005;73:645-855, 2006;76:745-960, 2007;79:729-944, 2008;82:743-829, 2009;85:873-938, 2010;88:1003-1174, 2011;89:985-1149, 2012;94:963-1053, 2013;97:617-707, 2014;100:813-904; and 2015;103:893-993.

Manuscripts will be peer-reviewed and approved under BDRA guidelines.  They should adhere to the guidelines for preparation and submission as outlined below.  We are interested in manuscripts that utilize or evaluate birth defects surveillance data, use birth defects surveillance data in analytical epidemiological investigations or etiologic research, or apply these data to prevention or intervention programs.  Manuscripts may come from a single state, or from collaborative efforts and activities including both multi-state and international collaborations.  State-specific analyses of a specific birth defect or set of conditions should provide new observations or be hypothesis-driven with objectives and rationale for conducting the study clearly identifiable.

We are especially interested in manuscripts focusing on but not limited to the following areas:

• Epidemiologic studies to increase knowledge of risk/protective factors and etiology of specific birth defects
• Statistical techniques for cluster investigations, spatial analysis, novel applications of methods
• Statistical assessment (simple or complex) of birth defects rates and trends with new insights or observations, novel approaches to monitoring and analysis of trends
• Surveillance methodology for enhanced birth defects data ascertainment and utilization
• Nationwide estimates pointing to the public health significance of birth defects
• Epidemiologic methods for birth defects research
• Using surveillance data to evaluate health promotion/birth defects prevention activities
• The effect a specific intervention may have on the health care utilization, long-term outcomes, and survival of infants and children with specific birth defects
• Health services and outcomes research related to infants and children with birth defects using surveillance data

Please contact Dr. Russell Kirby (813-396-2347, rkirby@health.usf.edu) or Dr. Marilyn Browne (518-402-7974, marilyn.browne@health.ny.gov) for more information or for a consultation on topics under consideration.  Even if your idea falls outside the topical areas listed above, we would still like to talk with you about it.

Birth Defects Research Part A’s Instructions to Authors can be found at the following website: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1542-0760/homepage/ForAuthors.html.  We also request that each manuscript be accompanied by a cover letter including the names, addresses and telephone number or email address for at least two potential reviewers uninvolved with the current work who might be willing to provide an objective and unbiased review.  Manuscripts should have internal clearance, if required for agency submission, and be submitted online at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/bdr-wiley by Friday, April 29, 2016.  You must indicate in the note section that the manuscript is being submitted for consideration as part of the NBDPN Congenital Malformations Surveillance Report special issue.