News & Updates

Blood samples from infants who died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) had high levels of serotonin, a chemical that carries signals along and between nerves, according to a study funded in part by the National Institutes of Health.

A conversation with Dr. Marian Willinger before her retirement. Dr. Willinger helped launch NICHD’s Safe to Sleep campaign and led research efforts on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, stillbirth and infant health.

NICHD Director Dr. Diana Bianchi discusses how human-animal interactions influence child health and behavior.

Brain proteins known as neuregulins are important for establishing normal brain activity, according to recent studies led by researchers at the National Institutes of Health.

Infants born to mothers in poverty had a greater chance of developing neurological problems within the first year of life, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Harvard University.

Experts convened for an NICHD workshop identified research gaps and opportunities to improve outcomes for women affected by opioid use disorder, their newborn infants and their families.

PregSource is a research project led by NICHD that aims to improve knowledge of pregnancy by collecting information directly from pregnant women.

An imaging technique called fcMRI may predict which high-risk, 6-month old infants will develop autism spectrum disorder by age 2 years, according to an NICHD-funded study.

A new task force created by the 21st Century Cures Act and led by NICHD will advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services on research needed to optimize therapies for pregnant women and nursing mothers. The first meeting will be held on August 21-22, 2017 at NIH.

Children born to women with gestational diabetes whose diet included high proportions of refined grains may have a higher risk of obesity by age 7, compared to children born to women with gestational diabetes who ate low proportions of refined grains, according to results from a National Institutes of Health study.

Children born to women who had gestational diabetes and drank at least one artificially sweetened beverage per day during pregnancy were more likely to be overweight or obese at age 7, compared to children born to women who had gestational diabetes and drank water instead of artificially sweetened beverages, according to a study led by researchers at the National Institutes of Health.

A small study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health suggests that mutations in the gene CABLES1 may lead to Cushing syndrome, a rare disorder in which the body overproduces the stress hormone cortisol. The study appears online in Endocrine-Related Cancer.

NICHD research aims to improve understanding of diseases and conditions that affect women.

A molecule may work with the hormone melatonin to regulate 24-hour changes in metabolism, including sleep and wake cycles, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.

A pilot program to help teens and young adults with HIV navigate the health care system raised the percentage of youths who remained in care compared to national estimates, according to a study funded by NIH.

An NIH-funded study shows promise in developing biomarker-based tool.

A device that calibrates MRI scanners to improve image and data quality has received U.S. patent approval. The inventors are researchers at NICHD and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.

NICHD researchers show that proteins known for silencing viral genes left over from ancient infections can also play an essential role in fetal and placental development.

Devices bolster function and ability for people with disabilities or injuries.

HIV appears to enlist the aid of nano-sized structures released by infected cells to infect new cells, according to a study by researchers at NICHD.