The College of Public Health’s Clinical Trials Statistical and Data Management Center (CTSDMC) contributed to a 2016 children’s migraine study that was recently selected by editors at the American Academy of Neurology as one of the most important advances of the year.

The CHAMP study, co-authored by biostatistics professor and CTSDMC director Christopher Coffey, found that prescribed medications are no more effective than a placebo when used to prevent migraines in children and teens. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Bruce Cohen, professor of pediatrics at Northeast Ohio Medical University and a member of the academy’s editorial advisory board for the weekly publication, Neurology Today, identified the CHAMP study as one of only two studies that met the criteria for “Best Advances of 2016” in the Pediatric Neurology category. The designation is intended to highlight “the most important advances, policies, and professional issues that occurred during the past 12 months,” according to the publication.

Joe Cavanaugh, professor and head of the Department of Biostatistics, said the citation was “impressive recognition of a study that will clearly have a profound impact on the treatment of pediatric migraines.”

“Yet another example of the stellar research being conducted by our colleagues in the CTSDMC!” said Cavanaugh.