Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted.

The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov.

Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at OPM.gov.

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs)

IDDs are a primary focus of NICHD’s research support. IDDs include disabilities and disorders that affect the nervous system, metabolism, and cell function and survival.

NICHD supports and conducts research to understand the causes and effects of IDDs and to help identify effective therapies for these disorders. NICHD invests heavily in supporting many areas of IDD research, including genetic and developmental causes of IDDs; ways that IDDs affect learning, communication, cognition, and memory; interactions of the family and community with individuals with IDDs; and effect of individual factors on social interactions, behavior, and emotions.