WASHINGTON (AP) -- The goal is to keep track of 100,000 children, from conception until they turn 21.

The National Children's Study is aimed at finding out how the environment and other factors affect the health of young people -- especially the development of conditions like autism, asthma, learning disabilities, diabetes and obesity.

Researchers now say they'll first start recruiting mothers-to-be in North Carolina and in New York in January. The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York will be involved.

The project has been delayed by tight budgets. It's been four years since organizers started choosing more than 100 locations where women and their children can participate.

Nationwide enrollment for the full study is set for the summer of 2010.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)