On December 8th and 9th, 2017, PROTECT team leaders from around the U.S. and Puerto Rico came together for an executive committee at the Residence Inn Marriott Hotel in Philadelphia, PA to discuss progress, data integration and plans. The first day of the meeting focused on integrating data from PROTECT and related research (ZIP, CRECE) into a repository which will be key for the team’s participation in the NIH Environmental influences on Children’s Health (ECHO) study.
On the second day, each executive committee member presented on progress made with their team, particularly focusing on instances of successful collaboration with other projects and cores. The team also discussed points of focus for the coming year with a strong emphasis on cross-project collaborations. This meeting offered an opportunity for team leaders to reflect on ways in which the PROTECT Center can evolve and improve to have a greater impact on Puerto Rico and the scientific community.