The Division of Intramural Research provides fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems through basic, clinical, and population-based research.
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.
Science Update: Antibody treatment for cytomegalovirus appears to offer no benefit, suggests NIH-funded study
Two-year-old children showed no benefits from their mothers receiving antibodies that target cytomegalovirus (CMV) during pregnancy compared to those whose mothers received a placebo. Findings from this follow-up study were similar to the original, which also found no differences. Full effects of CMV infection during pregnancy may not appear until a child is two years old.
Science Update: Questionnaire may detect childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder, NIH-funded study suggests
An early study suggests that a questionnaire can detect posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after childbirth with high probability. If large-scale studies verify its effectiveness, the questionnaire could provide a rapid and efficient method for postnatal PTSD screening, allowing timely referral for a thorough assessment and treatment.
Item of Interest: NICHD and CDC Partner on Healthy Native Babies Project
This collaboration will promote safe infant sleep with and within American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Science Update: NIH-funded study finds no link between preconception COVID-19 vaccination and miscarriage risk
Among more than 1,800 women planning a pregnancy, those who received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before getting pregnant were no more likely to miscarry than those who were unvaccinated. The study also found no increased miscarriage risk among roughly 1,500 couples in which the male partner was vaccinated before trying to conceive.
Media Advisory: Umbilical cord milking appears to be safe in preterm infants born after 28 weeks
A treatment that moves blood from the umbilical cord into an infant’s body may provide a safe option for preterm infants born after 28 weeks who need rapid support, according to a study supported by NIH. Umbilical cord “milking”— gently squeezing the cord between the thumb and forefinger and pushing the blood into the newborn’s body—did not increase the risk of bleeding inside the brain for preterm infants born after 28 weeks of pregnancy.
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: NIH-funded researchers develop ultrasound library of placental development
For the first time, researchers were able to track development of the human placenta from the merging of placental cells with blood vessels in the uterus to a fully formed organ using new ultrasound technology that visualizes and measures blood flow through extremely small blood vessels. The images and data provide a reference for typical placental development to help with comparison studies, tracking, identification of placental disorders, and other complications.
Science Update: Virtual driving test scores can identify new drivers at higher crash risk, NIH-funded study suggests
A virtual skill-based driving test can identify new drivers who are at higher-than-average risk for a crash within one year after they receive their licenses. The authors concluded that test assessments could inform development of interventions that would reduce crash risk in less skillful new drivers.
Director's Corner: Reducing Ableism in Medicine and Research
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.
Science Update: Maternal microbiome promotes placental development in mice, NIH-funded study suggests
Bacteria in the maternal digestive tract appear to stimulate blood vessel development of the placenta, suggests a mouse study. Studying the relationship between the mother’s microbiome and placental development may yield important insights into fetal and maternal health.
Media Advisory: New smartphone app quickly analyzes human motion to aid physical rehabilitation
Researchers have developed a smart phone app that can track and analyze human locomotion—the ability to move from one place to another—and other types of movements. They suggest that using the app costs only 1% of conventional motion analysis techniques and works 25 times faster.
Science Update: Generic daily HIV prevention pill for young men who have sex with men could save lives, lower costs, NIH-funded study suggests
Compared to annual HIV screening alone, generic daily oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with HIV screening every three months would result in fewer HIV acquisitions, longer life expectancy, and fewer HIV-associated costs among young men who have sex with men in the United States.
Science Update: Scanning technique may help assess health of preterm infants after blood transfusion, NIH-funded study suggests
A technique using near-infrared light to detect blood oxygen levels in the brain and abdomen may have potential for monitoring the health of preterm infants needing or given a blood transfusion.
Item of Interest: NIH funds new program to prevent, treat HIV among adolescents and young adults in low- and middle-income countries
NIH awarded $50 million for a research program that will identify youth at risk for or with HIV in eight African countries and get them into medical care. The five-year effort will focus on locations with limited research capacity and with populations underrepresented in HIV research, such as sexual and gender minorities, commercial sex workers, and drug users.
Media Advisory: Digital autism screening tool shows promise in NIH-funded study
A tablet-based screening app for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may improve early detection, suggests a study funded by NIH. By accurately identifying toddlers who warrant further investigation for ASD, the app may help health care providers ensure that children and families receive the support they need.
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.
Director's Corner: Addressing the Tragedy of Stillbirth
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.
Science Update: NIH-funded study finds several potential risk factors for high blood pressure disorders of pregnancy in people with HIV
The risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was higher for pregnant people with HIV if they had low CD4+ immune cell counts in the first or second trimester, or if they began taking antiretroviral drug regimens after 20 weeks of pregnancy, rather than at conception. The findings underscore the importance of getting HIV under control before becoming pregnant.
Release: NIH designates people with disabilities as a population with health disparities
NIH has designated people with disabilities as a population with health disparities for research. People with disabilities often experience a wide and varying range of health conditions leading to poorer health and shorter lifespan. In addition, discrimination, inequality, and exclusionary structural practices, programs, and policies inhibit access to timely and comprehensive health care, which further results in poorer health outcomes.