Children around the world face serious health consequences from harmful environmental exposures. The Children’s Environmental Health Collaborating Centres Network is a global collaboration among research institutions with a focus on reducing this important health burden. NIEHS is involved in this network as part of the Institute’s role as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. In this Part 1 of 2 series, Dr. William Suk discusses NIEHS’s role as a part of the Children’s Environmental Health Collaborating Centres Network.