NICHD is co-hosting several workshops and virtual meetings on women’s health topics in summer 2024. Please consider registering to participate in discussions and to help shape future research and care.
News
NICHD issues News Releases and Media Advisories to the news media. Spotlight and Research Feature articles explain NICHD research findings and public health issues to the general public. An Item of Interest is a short announcement of relevant information, such as a notable staff change.
Science Update: Common surgeries for pelvic organ prolapse are comparable and safe, according to NIH-funded clinical trial
Results from an NICHD-funded clinical trial suggest that three common surgeries to repair pelvic organ prolapse are generally
comparable and safe. This work provides healthcare providers and patients with clinical evidence to discuss available surgeries and decide upon the most appropriate treatment.
Science Update: Blood transfusions for preterm infants not associated with risk for necrotizing enterocolitis, NIH-funded study suggests
Blood transfusions for preterm infants to do not appear to increase the risk of a life-threatening intestinal condition, a new study suggests.
Science Update: Cerebral palsy increased among extremely preterm infants from 2008 to 2019, NIH-funded study suggests
The odds of cerebral palsy among surviving preterm infants born before 27 weeks of pregnancy increased by an average of 11% per year and study authors say the increase may reflect improved survival due to advances in infant care.
Science Update: Prediction strategies may reduce inappropriate CT scans for children and youth, NIH-funded study suggests
To avoid radiation exposure, researchers developed prediction strategies to prevent pediatric trauma patients from receiving unneeded CT scans, which slightly increase the risk for radiation induced cancers.
Science Update: NIH scientists identify cause of rare, infant-onset neurodegenerative disease
NICHD scientists and colleagues identified genetic variants that disable the protein complex BORC as the cause of a severe neurodegenerative disorder that begins early in life. Subsequent work helped unravel the role of BORC in neurons and explain how defects in BORC function may contribute to neurodegeneration.
Director's Corner: Prioritizing Women’s Health
Within NIH, NICHD leads research focused on women’s health “below the belt.” This includes addressing a spectrum of gynecological and reproductive health issues, from endometriosis to pelvic floor disorders.
Science Update: Exposure to tobacco smoke from fetal development through adolescence may increase high blood pressure, diabetes risk in midlife, NIH-funded study suggests
Individuals born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy and when they were children may be at an increased risk for high blood pressure and diabetes.
Item of Interest: NIH Distinguished Investigator Gisela Storz Elected AAAS Fellow
Gisela Storz, Ph.D., an NIH Distinguished Investigator at NICHD has been elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Dr. Storz was honored for her distinguished contributions to the field of microbiology.
Science Update: Steroid treatment in late pregnancy does not appear to affect children’s neurodevelopment, NICHD-funded study suggests
Children born to mother who received a steroid injection in late pregnancy do not appear to be at risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. The findings help to allay concerns that the treatment—given to help fetal lungs mature in case of preterm birth—could affect neurodevelopment.
Spotlight: Genetic Research Offers Hope for Targeted Therapies for Lymphatic Malformations
Anomalies of the vascular system include lymphatic malformations that can cause lymphedema, or swelling in parts of the body. These anomalies arise from gene mutations that can be hereditary or occur spontaneously after conception. Research led by the Sheppard Lab at NICHD is seeking to understand the genetic causes of vascular anomalies, examine how they change over a lifetime, and identify drugs to treat them.
Media Advisory: AI model has potential to detect risk of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder
An AI program has the potential to identify signs of childbirth related post-traumatic stress disorder by evaluating short narratives of patients who have given birth. With further refinements, the program could potentially identify a large proportion of those at risk.
Item of Interest: NIH-funded report recommends strategies to advance inclusion of pregnant and lactating women in clinical research
A report issued by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine makes recommendations to improve the safe and ethical inclusion of pregnant and lactating women in clinical research while reducing the risk of liability. Enhancing inclusion of pregnant and lactating people in clinical research promises to help people and their health care providers make informed decisions.
Director's Corner: Addressing Infertility
Infertility affects millions of lives. NICHD supports research to better understand its causes and contributing factors and to improve treatments for both male and female inferility.
Science Update: Preterm infant hernia surgery safer after initial hospital discharge, NIH-funded study suggests
Infants who underwent surgery for inguinal hernia—when intestinal tissue protrudes through an abnormal opening in the abdominal muscles—after discharge had fewer adverse events than those who had surgery while still in the hospital, a study suggests. The findings offer guidance on the best timing to perform this delicate surgery on fragile infants.
Media Advisory: Irregular sleep and late bedtimes associated with worse grades for high school students
Irregular sleep and late bedtimes are linked to worse grades and more school-related behavioral problems among teens, a new study suggests. Interventions to promote regular sleep hours could potentially boost their academic performance.
Science Update: Stress, microRNA linked to uterine fibroids, preliminary NIH-funded study suggests
Patients with uterine fibroids who scored high on stress questionnaires also had high levels of certain microRNAs—which regulate genes--in their uterine muscle tissue. The findings add to previous studies linking stress to the development and severity of fibroids.
Spotlight: Scientific Advances from the Division of Intramural Research
The Division of Intramural Research provides fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living
systems through basic, clinical, and population-based research.
Science Update: Relatives of men with infertility may be at higher risk for certain cancers, NIH-funded study suggests
Relatives of men with no or a very low sperm count may be at higher risk for cancers. The findings may lead to new ways for identifying people at risk.
Science Update: Stress from peer exclusion may contribute to weight gain among children, NIH study suggests
Children testing higher social anxiety may be at greater risk for overeating and weight gain after being socially excluded by their peers. The findings suggest that efforts to reduce obesity in children may need to consider social stresses, such as ostracism.