The informatics systems, CHOIS (Childhood Obesity Informatics System; http://www.nucri.org/mychois/) and NCPAD (The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability; http://www.ncpad.org/), are developed using open source technologies adopting component-level design to provide tools and measurements for reducing/preventing obesity epidemic by engaging the end users – the at-risk, obese, and disabled children. This panel will discuss the opportunities and challenges of these ongoing developments in the context of PHIN’s strategic plan on standard-based public health information exchange (Draft Version 2.2.1, 3/17/11).

The Obesity epidemic has become a national concern, particularly among children. A multidisciplinary effort is needed to understand the etiology of this multigenic, multifactorial, complex metabolic disease. Such effort depends on accurate tools and measurements to enhance our understanding of the etiology of obesity and allow for evaluation of intervention strategies to control this epidemic. In response to the obesity epidemic, we have developed and deployed CHOIS (Childhood Obesity Informatics System; http://www.nucri.org/mychois/) and NCPAD (The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability; http://www.ncpad.org/). CHOIS, developed using open source technologies and supported by TeraGrid Cyberinfrastructure, provides the obesity surveillance and other necessary tools for developing and implementing an obesity-prevention school health program in Illinois. NCPAD provides tools and measurements for physical activity, particularly for disabled children. Both of these informatics systems are designed to reduce or prevent obesity by engaging the end users – the at-risk, obese, and disabled. Communication and social networking tools empower the community of users to sustain these efforts. In addition, both portals (CHOIS & NCPAD) provide appropriate educational and training materials. Yet, because of the evolving health information exchange policy of the PHIN (Draft Version 2.2.1, 3/17/11), these ongoing developments are faced with enormous challenges and opportunities. The proposed expert panel members will discuss the issues and challenges of these two public health informatics projects on reducing/preventing obesity in the context of PHIN's new strategic plan. Discussion topics will include how this policy is going to serve as the foundation for the next generation of these two systems. Discussion will also include our collaborative efforts based on the philosophy “...together, what we can do” in the context of the NIH’s new strategic plan on obesity research (NIH Publication No. 11-5493).