2024 Selected Research Advances

As we ring in 2025, we’d like to reflect on our accomplishments from 2024. These activities showcase the institute’s commitment to research and training to understand human development, improve reproductive health, promote women’s health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize abilities for all.

Supporting Women’s Health

A patient and health care provider have a discussion.

NICHD supports research to promote several important aspects of women’s health. For example, the institute co-led a $3 million prize competition, the RADx® Tech ACT ENDO Challenge, to generate promising research aimed at developing faster and less-invasive diagnostic procedures for endometriosis, a common and often debilitating gynecological disease that affects approximately 10% of women and girls worldwide. NICHD-funded researchers also found that a repurposed drug, fenoprofen, shows promise against endometriosis-related pain in an animal model of the disease.

This year, NICHD made advances against uterine fibroids, non-cancerous tumors that grow in or on the wall of the uterus that can cause pain or abnormal bleeding and make it difficult to achieve or maintain a pregnancy. The institute funded two fibroid research centers to specifically address health disparities, as Black women are more likely to experience severe and recurring symptoms. NICHD also supported research on pelvic floor disorders, including clinical studies to evaluate surgical treatments. Researchers found that three common surgeries to repair pelvic organ prolapse are generally comparable and safe, giving patients and health care providers important clinical evidence to aid discussion of treatment options.

Improving Postpartum Health Outcomes

A mother holds her baby while looking at a cell phone.

NICHD has a longstanding commitment to research on improving health outcomes during the period when most maternal deaths occur—up to one year after delivery or the end of a pregnancy. This year, researchers supported by the institute adapted an artificial intelligence program to identify signs of childbirth-related, post-traumatic stress disorder by evaluating short narrative statements of patients who had given birth. The program successfully identified a large proportion of participants likely to have the disorder, and with further refinements, the model could potentially identify a large percentage of those at risk. NIH also announced final winners of the RADx® Tech for Maternal Health Challenge, an $8 million prize competition to encourage development of postpartum maternal health diagnostics for use in regions that have limited access to maternity care. The eight winning teams developed home-based and point-of-care diagnostics, wearables, and other accessible technologies.

Advancing Fetal and Neonatal Health

A black and white sonogram of a fetus.

This year, the $2 million RADx® Tech Fetal Monitoring Challenge concluded with six finalists receiving top honors for their solutions to improve fetal health diagnosis, detection, and monitoring. Winning technologies include a device to detect fetal stress, an AI model for early detection of congenital heart disease, and a wearable ultrasound patch to monitor fetal vascular health. NICHD researchers also reported findings that can help improve the accuracy of birthweight estimates. Fetal weight is estimated during pregnancy to assess the growth and health of the fetus. However, inaccurate estimates can potentially lead to unnecessary clinical recommendations or misclassification of adverse health risks.

NICHD also led the development of an NIH report that provided 17 recommendations to improve the scientific evidence around necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a gastrointestinal disease that is one of the leading causes of illness and death in preterm infants. The report identifies significant limitations in the understanding of NEC and of the relationship between feeding practices for preterm infants and development of the disease. NICHD-supported researchers also found that atypical metabolite levels at birth may increase the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and suggested that checking for this pattern could provide a way to identify infants at risk for SIDS.

Improving Care for Pediatric Injury

Parent reassuring child on table in front of scanner.

To optimally treat pediatric injuries, care must be tailored to meet the unique needs of children. This year, an NICHD-supported study estimated that widespread adoption of standards designed to improve pediatric care in U.S. hospital emergency departments could save more than 2,000 lives each year. According to the study, adopting the standards would range from no cost to $11.84 per child, depending on the state. Results from another study suggest that strategies for when to recommend computed tomography (CT) scans for pediatric trauma patients can minimize inappropriate use of CT scans for evaluating children with suspected abdominal or head injuries. Although helpful for identifying injuries in various parts of the body, CT scans pose a slight increase in cancer risk, particularly for small children.

Advancing Child and Adolescent Health

A young woman with overweight sitting at a table and looking through a window.

NICHD research seeks to understand and address the effects of childhood adversity, stress, and mental health conditions on development. An NICHD analysis in 2024 revealed that children exposed to early life adversity scored lower on neurological and cognitive tests than children who experienced minimal or no adversity. Other work provided support for the theory that loss-of-control eating results from unhealthy coping with social stress, such as being excluded or criticized by peers. In addition, an NICHD-funded study found that youth with mood disorders are less likely to obtain a driver’s license, compared to other youth.

Institute research also focuses on finding solutions that help children and adolescents overcome barriers and thrive. One study showed that, when playing with the family dog, children had higher levels of oxytocin compared to when they played alone with toys. The findings may inform therapeutic approaches involving animals to promote physical, mental, and emotional health in children.

Treating and Understanding Pediatric Infections

Child lying in hospital bed holding caretaker’s hand. Health care worker writing on clipboard. Both are masked.

Infants and children can be uniquely susceptible to infections, and infections may affect them differently than adults. For example, some children who experience infection with the COVID-19 virus go on to develop MIS-C—a rare, life-threatening inflammatory condition. This year, NICHD-funded research suggested that MIS-C may result from an immune system attack on one of the body’s own proteins, SNX8, a section of which greatly resembles a viral protein fragment. Other studies of infectious diseases showed how very early treatment of infants born with HIV enables unique features of the neonatal immune system to limit HIV reservoir development. NICHD also supports clinical research to provide details about drug safety, efficacy, and dosing in infants and children. As a result of these efforts, labels for the antifungal drug fluconazole now include information about its recommended usage and dosage in infants, including those born prematurely.

Addressing Health Disparities for People with Disabilities

A person in a wheelchair reaches for a book on a library shelf.

More than 70 million people in the United States have one or more type of disability. Compared to people without disabilities, those with disabilities are more likely to experience chronic diseases, are less likely to be up-to-date on preventive health care, and often face barriers to accessing health care. This year, NICHD launched the Community Champions for Disability Health Challenge to encourage community-based organizations to develop and implement strategies to reduce health disparities experienced by people with disabilities. The institute also supported new studies to understand how ableism—discrimination and social prejudice against people with disabilities—contributes to health disparities in this population.

Expanding Research on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

A young woman with Down syndrome smiles with her grandmother in an outdoor setting.

NICHD continues to support research on intellectual and developmental disabilities, including the NIH-wide Down Syndrome Cohort Development Program. The $20 million study will observe and track health data of people with Down syndrome from birth to adulthood. The results will help deepen our understanding of Down syndrome, accelerate knowledge of health conditions that more commonly affect those with the condition, and ultimately improve the quality of life for individuals and their families.

NICHD-supported researchers also evaluated the reproductive health of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities to better understand their needs as they transition to adulthood. The study team found that these adolescents were less likely than their peers to visit an obstetrician-gynecologist or use any form of hormonal contraception—despite having higher rates of menstrual disorders and polycystic ovary syndrome. The findings underscore the need to address barriers to equitable health care.

Advancing Medical Rehabilitation Research

A military member with a service dog

Part of NICHD’s vision is to optimize abilities for all—including adults with mental health conditions or physical disabilities. This year, a large nationwide study funded by NICHD found that adding a service dog to usual care may reduce the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder for military members and veterans. The institute also supported research to evaluate a new surgical procedure to help people with below-knee amputations achieve a more natural gait. In a small study, the procedure allowed for neural control that improves maneuverability of a robotic limb, helping the user perceive and control the device almost as if it were part of their residual limb.

Discovering How Cells Are Programmed

Drawing of a single zebrafish with streams of cells arranged artistically and grouped by color and type.
Credit: J. Farrell, NICHD/NIH

NICHD scientists work to understand the genetics and cell biology of development and how dysregulation of these processes can contribute to human disability and disease. Model organisms like zebrafish help investigators identify how embryos mature from a single cell into distinct cell types, tissues, and organs. This year, NICHD researchers published a genetic atlas of early zebrafish development that promises to help the broader research community understand the roles of different types of cells in health and disease.

Related Links

Supporting Women’s Health

Improving Postpartum Health Outcomes

Advancing Fetal and Neonatal Health

Improving Care for Pediatric Injury

Advancing Child and Adolescent Health

Treating and Understanding Pediatric Infections

Addressing Health Disparities for People with Disabilities

Expanding Research on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Advancing Medical Rehabilitation Research

Discovering How Cells Are Programmed

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