Mission:

The mission of the Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc. (MCAN) is to support and advance evidence-based programs that improve the quality of life for children with asthma and their families and to reduce through the dissemination of effective interventions the burden of the disease on them and society.

Vision:

MCAN seeks to be a leading national resource for and an advocate on behalf of children with asthma by working with national, regional and community partners. We intend to advance comprehensive community-based approaches that facilitate the adoption of effective asthma interventions. We aim to demonstrate that, while asthma currently is not curable, it is manageable when children and their families have access to and utilize quality healthcare services.

Strategy:

MCAN supports competitive, peer-reviewed childhood asthma translational research specifically focused on the adoption of evidence-based treatment and prevention models that will:

• Improve access to and quality of asthma health care services for children
• Enhance knowledge about asthma among affected individuals and the general public
• Foster asthma-friendly schools and communities
• Promote asthma-safe home environments
• Reduce disparities in childhood asthma outcomes

MCAN seeks to serve as a catalyst in assembling the expertise needed to identify and address factors contributing to childhood asthma morbidity in general and to specific high risk populations when identifiable.