International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Surveillance and Research

The International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Surveillance and Research (commonly known as ICBDSR or Clearinghouse) began in 1974. Until 2004 it was known as the International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Monitoring Systems (ICBDMS). The organization is a nonprofit affiliated with the WHO; it facilitates the sharing of data between members (birth defect surveillance systems in various countries); organizes collaborative studies looking into the causes of birth defects; and conducts Annual Meetings yearly for member and affiliate programs. It also publishes annual reports which include tabulated information on various congenital anomalies and investigations. The International Clearinghouse Centre, located in Rome, is the Central Office of the Clearinghouse.