Spotlight: Selected NICHD Research Advances of 2021: Text Alternative

Addressing the Needs of Women During the Pandemic

A pregnant woman holds her belly as she sits across from her healthcare provider, who is holding a stethoscope. Both are wearing masks.

At the beginning of 2021, NICHD Director Diana W. Bianchi, M.D., and colleagues called for greater inclusion of pregnant and lactating people in COVID-19 vaccine research.

Learn how we addressed these needs during the pandemic.

Leading Research on COVID-19 Transmission in Schools

A masked student sits in a wheelchair in a classroom.

NICHD-funded scientists, as part of NIH’s RADx-UP program, are exploring how COVID-19 is transmitted in schools.

Learn how we led research to help students and faculty attend school safely during the pandemic.

Understanding Long COVID in Children

A masked boy in a hospital bed looks at his healthcare provider, who is checking his vital signs. She is wearing a mask and face shield.

Since the pandemic started, NICHD has led research to study the effects of COVID-19 on children.

Learn about our advancements in understanding a long-term complication called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, or MIS-C.

Developing & Evaluating COVID-19 Treatment Strategies

A masked researcher looks through a microscope in a laboratory.

NICHD supports and conducts research to identify effective ways to diagnose and treat COVID-19.

Learn about advances on drug treatments and in understanding how the virus infects cells.

Addressing Health Disparities

A healthcare provider takes notes across from her patient—a young girl and her mother. Everyone is wearing masks.

NICHD has a long history of supporting health disparities research—initially in the context of women’s health and intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities—but also in timely circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn about our research on vaccine distribution and equity, maternal health disparities, and more.

Advancing Research on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

A toddler with Down syndrome smiles as he plays.

People with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDDs) are central to NICHD’s mission since it was established in 1962.

Learn how the institute continues to lead research on IDDs nearly six decades later.

Understanding Contraception, Fertility, and Pregnancy Loss

A man wraps his arm around his partner as both meet with a counselor or healthcare provider, who has her back to the camera.

Promoting reproductive health and supporting healthy pregnancies are key research themes for NICHD.

Learn about new findings that help improve our understanding of contraception, fertility, and pregnancy loss.

Improving Therapies and Treatments for Health Conditions

A therapist helps a man as he smiles during a therapy session. He is gripping two parallel bars.

Research supported by NICHD has led to new or improved therapies and treatments for many different health conditions.

Learn about advances in stroke rehabilitation, cerebral palsy treatments, and more.

Advancing Nutrition Research

An infant smiles in a high chair as an adult, who is not visible, feeds her with a green spoon.

Understanding the impact of nutrition in pregnancy and infancy can help babies get a healthy start in life.

Learn how NICHD research helps improve our knowledge of nutrition across the lifespan.

Improving Child and Adolescent Health

A diverse group of five teenagers are sitting outside smiling.

NICHD is dedicated to helping all children thrive—from birth, to school, and beyond.

Learn about research that improves child and adolescent health.

Establishing New Resources and Technologies

Green dots are visible against a black background. The spectrum of dots is mostly symmetrical, and the spinal column runs from left to right.

NICHD’s focus on data sharing, new technologies, and research collaboration often leads to advances in a variety of research fields and health conditions.

Learn about new resources, tools, and devices.

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