Anomalies of the vascular system include lymphatic malformations that can cause lymphedema, or swelling in parts of the body. These anomalies arise from gene mutations that can be hereditary or occur spontaneously after conception. Research led by the Sheppard Lab at NICHD is seeking to understand the genetic causes of vascular anomalies, examine how they change over a lifetime, and identify drugs to treat them.
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.
Director's Corner: Addressing Infertility
Infertility affects millions of lives. NICHD supports research to better understand its causes and contributing factors and to improve treatments for both male and female inferility.
Spotlight: Scientific Advances from the Division of Intramural Research
The Division of Intramural Research provides fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living
systems through basic, clinical, and population-based research.
Spotlight: Women in Science: Dr. Tracey Rouault on Resilience
NICHD’s Tracey Rouault, M.D., has had many notable achievements during her nearly four-decade career in the intramural program at NIH. Learn about her upbringing, career path, and accomplishments.
Media Advisory: NIH-supported researchers create single-cell atlas of the placenta during term labor
An atlas of the placenta developed by NIH researchers offers insight on the communication that occurs between maternal and fetal cells during labor and delivery.
Director's Corner: Reflecting on a Productive 2023
In 2023, NICHD continued its commitment to research to understand human development, improve reproductive health, promote women’s health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize abilities for all. Highlights include steps toward reducing the global burden of maternal sepsis and establishing a standard treatment for opioid-exposed newborns.
Release: NIH researchers create genetic atlas detailing early stages of zebrafish development
Zebrafish are models for studying early development. Scientists at NICHD published an atlas of early zebrafish development that can serve as resource for other researchers who study development or human conditions and diseases.
Spotlight: Looking Back on NICHD in 2023
As we ring in 2024, we’d like to take a brief look back on our accomplishments during 2023. These activities illustrate the institute’s continued commitment to research and training in its mission areas.
Spotlight: Scientific Advances from the Division of Intramural Research
The Division of Intramural Research provides fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems through basic, clinical, and population-based research.
Science Update: NICHD researchers develop model for how energy-producing mitochondria obtain magnesium
Researchers at NIH have developed a model of how mitochondria—the energy producers in cells—obtain the essential mineral magnesium through the Mitochondrial RNA Splicing 2 (MRS2) channel.
Science Update: Mice models accurately replicate neuronal communication responsible for memory and learning in people, according to NIH study
The properties of neuronal junctions that help form long-term memories and aid in learning are similar between mice and people, according to a new NIH study.
Spotlight: Scientific Advances from the Division of Intramural Research
The Division of Intramural Research provides fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems through basic, clinical, and population-based research.
Item of Interest: Pediatrician Catherine Gordon appointed director of NICHD’s clinical research program
Catherine Gordon, M.D., M.S., has been appointed clinical director at NICHD. In her new role, she will lead the institute’s intramural clinical research program to improve understanding of the biological, medical, reproductive, and behavioral aspects of typical and atypical human development.
Science Update: Children with hereditary developmental disorder have high levels of Alzheimer-associated proteins
Children with creatine transporter deficiency, a hereditary developmental disorder, have higher levels of three proteins that are also found in people with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a small study by researchers at NIH and other institutions. The higher the level of proteins, the lower the children scored on a test of coping behaviors and skills. These findings may help inform diagnostic approaches for the transporter deficiency disorder.
Release: NIH zebrafish research included in U.S. Postal Service’s “Life Magnified” stamps
A microscopy image created by NIH researchers is part of the “Life Magnified” stamp panel issued by the United States Postal Service.
Science Update: Antiviral drug TEMPOL targets multiple SARS-CoV-2 proteins
The experimental drug TEMPOL prevents viral replication by targeting the SARS-CoV-2 helicase, in addition to the virus’ replicase, according to a new NICHD study.
Science Update: NIH study finds neurotrophic factor-α1 prevents memory loss and neurodegeneration in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Delivery of the gene for neurotrophic factor-α1 directly into the hippocampus of the brain prevents neurodegeneration and memory loss in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.
Spotlight: Scientific Advances from the Division of Intramural Research
The Division of Intramural Research provides fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems through basic, clinical, and population-based research.
Science Update: Cellulose gel may help prevent spread of SARS-CoV-2, NIH study suggests
A gel made from the seeds of a South American palm tree entraps SARS-CoV-2 and the protein the virus uses to enter cells, preventing the virus from infecting cells in laboratory cultures, a National Institutes of Health study has found. The findings raise the possibility of future studies to determine if the gel could be incorporated into masks and filters to reduce airborne spread of SARS-CoV-2.
Media Advisory: Researchers develop model for how the brain acquires essential omega-3 fatty acids
Findings may aid design of targeted drug delivery into the brain and central nervous system.