When it comes to prioritizing topics for childhood health research[1] , most U.S. adults say childhood cancer should be the top one, according to a new poll.


Researchers from University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital commissioned the poll of 1,996 adults -- who both had children age 18 and younger in the household, and who lived in childless households -- which took place in June of this year. They found that the most adults -- including both the adults living with children (75 percent) and those not living with children (76 percent) -- said that childhood cancer should be a "very important" research priority.


"So many people know a child or family touched by childhood cancer," Dr. Matthew M. Davis, M.D., M.A.P.P., the director of the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, said in a statement. "It remains a leading killer of children under 18 in the United States. The public clearly ranks research into cures and treatments[2] for these often deadly cancers as a top priority."


Interestingly, the research priorities differed slightly for people who had children in the household and people who didn't. Check out the research priority rankings for each group[3] below:


Top children's health research topics, for adults without a child in the household:


1. Childhood cancer - 76 percent

2. Diabetes - 72 percent

3. Birth defects/other genetic problems - 69 percent

4. Transplants due to cancer or other diseases - 67 percent

5. Causes of infant death - 67 percent


Top children's health research topics, for adults with a child in the household:



1. Childhood cancer - 75 percent

2. Medication safety - 68 percent

3. Causes of infant death - 68 percent

4. Vaccine safety - 67 percent

5. Transplants due to cancer or other diseases - 67 percent


What do you think about the findings? What would you say the top childhood health issue is that should be prioritized in research? Tell us in the comments!