One of the contributions of the Center for Developmental Epidemiology is to bring together groups of researchers with a common interest in development, but different points of departure, giving them access to the specific areas of developmental expertise that the others have. The theme of the CDE is our drive to interdigitate these strands of developmental science in the service of understanding changes in psychopathology and risk for psychopathology across childhhood and adolescence.

Funding for the Center for Developmental Epidemiology began on February 1, 1999. The Center aims to establish and maintain collaborations between faculty and staff group at three universities to promote and extend multi-disciplinary research into the epidemiology of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders, with a particular emphasis on transitions through adolescence. Eleven faculty from Duke University Medical Center, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and Emory University are currently involved in this collaborative effort.