Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have developed a prototype device that could potentially diagnose pregnancy complications by monitoring the oxygen level of the placenta.
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.
Release: NIH researchers identify potential new antiviral drug for COVID-19
The experimental drug TEMPOL may be a promising oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19, suggests a study by researchers at NIH.
Media Advisory: Open, expressive family life may reduce effects of social deprivation among adopted children
An environment in which family members support one another and express their feelings can reduce the effects of social deprivation on cognitive ability and development among adopted children, suggests a small study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health. In contrast, rule-driven households where family members are in conflict may increase an adopted child’s chances for cognitive, behavioral and emotional difficulties.
Science Update: NIH-funded study raises possibility that outermost placental cells may halt spread of SARS-CoV-2
Trophoblasts—the outermost fetal cells of the placenta—may be able to contain SARS-CoV-2 and prevent it from spreading to the fetus even though these cells appear to be susceptible to infection by the virus, a study by NIH-funded researchers suggests. Further research into how trophoblasts might contain the virus could lead to ways to prevent COVID-19 in children and adults. The findings may also lead to insights on why fetuses are only rarely infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Media Advisory: NIH study identifies diverse spectrum of neurons that govern movement
Mouse study provides atlas to pinpoint neurons involved in neurodegenerative diseases.
Director's Corner: One Year of Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics, and Anticipating New Challenges
Looking back and looking ahead. NICHD Director Dr. Diana W. Bianchi joins other leaders across NIH in reflecting on the work of the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) program and discussing plans for the future.
Science Update: COVID vaccines in pregnancy boost maternal and newborn immunity, NIH-funded study suggests
Current vaccines to prevent COVID-19 are highly effective in producing antibodies in pregnant people, resulting in more antibodies than what is generated from a natural SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Moreover, antibodies produced after vaccination are present in breastmilk and travel across the placenta, indicating that vaccination during pregnancy will also confer immunity to newborns.
Release: Moderate daily caffeine intake during pregnancy may lead to smaller birth size
Pregnant women who consumed the caffeine equivalent of as little as half a cup of coffee a day on average had slightly smaller babies than pregnant women who did not consume caffeinated beverages, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health.
Science Update: NIH researchers shed light on symptoms of rare disease
NIH researchers have identified additional symptoms of EPAS1 gain-of-function syndrome, a rare disease resulting in hormone-secreting tumors and an increase in red blood cells.
Science Update: Eviction during pregnancy linked to earlier births, reduced birthweight, according to NICHD-funded study
Women facing eviction from their homes while they were pregnant are more likely to have poor birth outcomes, compared to women who faced eviction before or after they were pregnant, according to a study funded in part by NICHD.
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.
Spotlight: Developing Talent at NICHD
Meet Kyla Roland and Jacob Olondo-Kuba, who are part of NICHD’s Developing Talent Scholars Program.
Spotlight: Selected NICHD Research Advances of 2020
Read about NICHD’s research findings and activities from 2020.
Science Update: Vegetarian diets during pregnancy associated with small infant birth weight
Vegetarian diets during pregnancy are associated with small infant birth weight, but not a higher risk preterm birth or other medical complications, suggests a National Institutes of Health study.
Media Advisory: NIH researchers identify gene in mice that controls food cravings, desire to exercise
National Institutes of Health researchers have discovered a gene in mice that controls the craving for fatty and sugary foods and the desire to exercise. The gene, Prkar2a, is highly expressed in the habenula, a tiny brain region involved in responses to pain, stress, anxiety, sleep and reward. The findings could inform future research to prevent obesity and its accompanying risks for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Release: Postpartum depression may persist three years after giving birth
National Institutes of Health study suggests women with mood disorders, gestatational diabetes may have a higher risk.
Item of Interest: It’s a Small World After All for NICHD Researchers
Intramural Group Wins Microphotography Prize
Media Advisory: Mouse study suggests parental response to infant distress is innate but adapts to change
A National Institutes of Health study in mice suggests that parents have an innate capacity to respond to an infant’s cries for help and this capacity may serve as a foundation from which a parent learns to adjust to an infant’s changing needs.
Media Advisory: Miglustat improves swallowing in children and adolescents with Niemann-Pick type C1 disease
The drug miglustat appears to stabilize the swallowing problems that occur in children and adolescents with Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1), a rare and ultimately fatal neurological disease, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health. The authors conclude that the drug could slow the deterioration of swallowing function in NPC1 cases and decrease the risk of pneumonia resulting from aspiration, or inhaling food or drink. Aspiration pneumonia accounts for roughly 2 out of 3 deaths in people with NPC1.
Release: NIH-funded project seeks to identify children at risk for MIS-C
The National Institutes of Health has announced research funding to encourage the development of approaches that identify children at high risk for developing Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), thought to be a severe complication of COVID-19. Up to $20 million will be awarded to successful research proposals over four years.