Due to the variability in published results on brace effectiveness, researchers in the United States and Canada have commenced a randomized multi-center trial of bracing versus no bracing to determine the effectiveness of brace wear in the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis (BRAIST Study). This study, which was initiated in 2007 in the United States, is being performed under the auspices of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Canadian Institute of Health. In the Netherlands, a randomized multi-center study comparing bracing to observation is also underway.