NICHD research aims to improve understanding of diseases and conditions that affect women.
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.
NICHD scientists identify molecule that may help control sleep and wake cycles
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.
Collaborative HIV program improves long-term care for youths in the United States
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.
Blood test may detect bleeding in the infant brain after abusive head trauma
An NIH-funded study shows promise in developing biomarker-based tool.
Medical imaging device developed by NIH researchers awarded U.S. patent
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.
NIH researchers identify key regulator of fetal growth in mice
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.
NIH-funded rehabilitation technologies receive FDA clearance
Devices bolster function and ability for people with disabilities or injuries.
Cell particles may help spread HIV infection, NIH study suggests
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.
Impulsive personality linked to risky driving among certain young adults, NIH study finds
At-risk young adults who scored higher than their peers on a questionnaire that measures impulsive personality traits had a higher chance of engaging in reckless and impaired driving, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.
NICHD-funded study explores the toll of pediatric trauma
A conversation with Dr. Sheri Crow, a pediatrician specializing in critical care at the Mayo Clinic, about her NICHD-funded research. Dr. Crow has explored the long-term health outcomes of children who experience traumatic injury or a life-threatening illness in early childhood.
Researchers seek to improve understanding of the relationships between child brain development, nutrition, and inflammation
International experts have identified research needed to better understand relationships between child brain development, nutrition, and inflammation, particularly for children living in poverty.
NIH researchers trace origin of blood-brain barrier ‘sentry cells’
National Institutes of Health researchers studying zebrafish have determined that a population of cells that protect the brain against diseases and harmful substances are not immune cells, as had previously been thought, but instead likely arise from the lining of the circulatory system.
NICHD scientists identify proteins involved in cells’ energy production
Energy production in mitochondria—structures within cells that produce energy from oxygen and nutrients—relies on a group of proteins previously not linked to this process, according to a study by NICHD researchers.
NICHD Director Recognized with March of Dimes Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Diana W. Bianchi is recognized with the March of Dimes Colonel Harland Sanders Lifetime Achievement Award for significant contributions toward the prevention or treatment of birth defects and other genetic disorders.
Monitoring brain electrical activity after head injury may help predict decline in function
A technique that monitors the brain’s electrical activity could one day be used to predict which children who have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are likely to suffer progressive brain damage, according to a small study funded in part by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), a component of the National Institutes of Health.
NICHD scientists identify mechanism for lysosome transportation within neurons
Uneven distribution of lysosomes, the structures that break down unneeded or worn-out cell parts, can impair the shape and function of neurons, according to a study led by NICHD researchers.
Long-time NICHD grantee wins Saint Patrick’s Day Medal
A long-time grantee of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) has been awarded the St. Patrick’s Day Science Medal from Science Foundation Ireland for developing statistical methods that account for uncertainty when forecasting population changes.
Common tests for preterm birth not useful for routine screening of first-time pregnancies
Two methods thought to hold promise in predicting preterm delivery in first-time pregnancies identified only a small proportion of cases and do not appear suitable for widespread screening, according to a large study by a National Institutes of Health research network.
NICHD scientists identify in mice a potential mechanism of lysosomal storage disorders
The misdelivery of proteins to lysosomes, the structures within cells that break down unneeded or worn-out proteins, fats, carbohydrates and cell parts, appears to underlie a family of rare neurodegenerative diseases.
No benefit in treating mildly low thyroid function in pregnancy, NIH Network study finds
There appears to be no benefit to treating mildly low thyroid function during pregnancy, according to a study by a National Institutes of Health research network.