The Division of Intramural Research provides fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems through basic, clinical, and population-based research.
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: Consensus reached on radiation therapy for patients with rare tumors
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health led an international team to develop consensus guidelines on the appropriate use of a specialized form of radiation therapy for patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma—rare cancers— that have spread.
Science Update: NIH researchers discover possible new genetic cause of Cushing syndrome
Finding may help find treatments for rare pituitary disorder
Release: NIH scientists link genetics to risk of high blood pressure among blacks
Variants in the gene ARMC5 may be associated with high blood pressure among blacks, according to a National Institutes of Health study led by NICHD researchers.
Media Advisory: Gene variations linked to severity of Zika-related birth defects, small NIH study suggests
The severity of birth defects caused by Zika virus infection may be influenced by natural variations in a pregnant woman’s genes for a key enzyme, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.
Researchers identify gene involved in food-dependent Cushing syndrome
The gene responsible for food-triggered Cushing syndrome has been identified by an international team that includes researchers from NICHD.
NIH researchers find potential genetic cause of Cushing syndrome
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.
Hair analysis may help diagnose Cushing Syndrome, NIH researchers report
Analyzing a hair sample may help with the diagnosis of Cushing Syndrome, a rare and potentially fatal disorder in which the body overproduces the stress hormone cortisol, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health.
Selected NICHD Research Advances of 2016
NICHD had a very productive year in 2016. Staff responded quickly to Zika virus and led the effort to develop the NIH Research Plan on Rehabilitation. The following snapshots are examples of the many advances made possible by NICHD this year.
Getting to Know the New NICHD Director
NICHD Director Dr. Diana Bianchi shares some thoughts about joining NICHD.
Little Glands, Big Effects: Understanding and Treating Adrenal Gland Disorders
NICHD conducts and supports research to understand and ultimately treat adrenal gland disorders. Read how families and NICHD researchers work together to advance knowledge about these conditions.
Some women with PCOS may have adrenal disorder, NIH researchers suggest
A subgroup of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a leading cause of infertility, may produce excess adrenal hormones, according to an early study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.
Rare cancers may masquerade as ADHD in children, NIH researchers suggest
Rare tumors called pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas may cause the same symptoms as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, leading to inappropriate treatment that could worsen their symptoms and potentially endanger their health. That’s the conclusion of a new study by National Institutes of Health researchers who evaluated a group of pediatric patients diagnosed with the tumors.
Children with Cushing syndrome may have higher suicide risk
Children with Cushing syndrome may be at higher risk for suicide as well as for depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions long after their disease has been successfully treated, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health.
Research Round-up: Rare Disease Research
A disease is considered rare in the United States if it affects fewer than 200,000 people. There are approximately 7,000 rare diseases known today.
Neuroscience Research Resources
NICHD supports a variety of research projects and networks that are useful to neuroscientists. Find a detailed list here.
2014 Annual Report of the Division of Intramural Research
NICHD’s Division of Intramural Research releases its 2014 annual report with progress updates from each program and laboratory.
First CRC Patient’s Genetic Disease Unraveled
Clinical Center researchers have identified the genetic defect underlying the disease for the first admitted patient at the Hatfield Clinical Research Center.
NIH researchers identify mutation linked to severe form of Cushing’s syndrome
Mutations in a gene containing part of the information needed to make an enzyme that provides energy for governing basic cell functions appear to contribute to a severe form of Cushing’s syndrome, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health and nine European research institutions.
Two copies of mutant gene may trigger rare adrenal disorder
Many cases of a rare disorder of the adrenal glands appear to result from two copies of a mutant gene, according to a research team made up of scientists in France and at the U.S. National Institutes of Health.