Director's Corner

Reducing Ableism in Medicine and Research

Collage of colored blocks interspersed with photographs showing a health care provider with a young man in a wheelchair, a woman with a mobility cane holding a monocular to her eye, an athletic man with one arm amputated below the elbow, and a young girl with glasses playing with tactile toys. Posted on 11/01/2023

Ableism—discrimination and social prejudice against those who are disabled—is a major contributor to the health disparities experienced by people with disabilities. Within NIH, NICHD has been at the forefront of efforts to address ableism in medicine and scientific research.

Addressing the Tragedy of Stillbirth

A pair of white baby shoes setting on a hardwood floor. Posted on 09/29/2023

Each year, more than 20,000 families in the United States experience a stillbirth, the loss of a fetus at 20 weeks or more of gestation. Stillbirth is a traumatic event that takes a devastating, lifelong psychological toll on families. October marks Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, making this an opportune time to reflect on the work we must do to better understand the causes of—and ultimately prevent—these tragedies.

Addressing the Health Effects of Climate Change

Smoke from a wildfire rising through trees. Posted on 09/05/2023

The effects of climate change on health are wide-ranging, from causing injuries and other medical concerns to disrupting vital supply chains. NICHD is committed to supporting scientific research to reduce climate-related health threats among its populations of interest—children, people of reproductive age, and people with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Advancing Our Knowledge of Human Milk and Lactation

A woman holding a baby reads the label on a bottle of prescription medicine. Other medicine cabinet items appear blurred in the foreground. Posted on 08/01/2023

Strengthening our understanding of human milk biology and lactation is essential to support breastfeeding and to ensure the health of infants who do not have access to a lactating parent’s milk. NICHD supports a range of efforts to explore human milk as an active biological system and to promote the inclusion of pregnant and lactating people in clinical research.

Preventing Pediatric Injuries

A sign reading “Caution, no lifeguard, swim at own risk” appears in the foreground. A sandy beach with dune grasses appears blurred in the background. Posted on 07/05/2023

With its longer days and warmer temperatures, summer is an ideal season for outdoor recreation. But fun activities like swimming also carry the risk of injuries, especially among children. NICHD supports a broad spectrum of research that seeks to prevent and treat pediatric injuries from drowning to dog bites.