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.

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Spotlight: Selected NICHD Research Advances of 2020

An African American woman smiling at the baby she’s holding in her arms.

Read about NICHD’s research findings and activities from 2020.

Spotlight: Boosting women’s health by supporting menstruation research

A young woman is smiling while using her cellphone.

NICHD has supported gynecologic and reproductive health research for decades. Learn more about its leading role in menstruation research.

Release: NIH-funded study links endometriosis to DNA changes

DNA from uterine cells of women with endometriosis has different chemical modifications, compared to the DNA of women who do not have the condition, according to researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health. The changes involve DNA methylation—the binding of compounds known as methyl groups to DNA—which can alter gene activity.

Director’s Corner: Endometriosis Research to Develop Non-Invasive Treatment and Diagnosis

A health care provider shows a patient a graphic illustrating the pathway of endometriosis.

Research on the causes of and effective treatments for endometriosis is a high priority for NICHD. Our grantees share their findings and ongoing research.

Spotlight: Selected NICHD Research Advances of 2019

Infocard has the text '2019 Research Advances #NICHD2019' in a blue box surrounded by various images.

Read about NICHD’s notable research findings and activities from 2019.

Release: NIH scientists call attention to the impact of opioids on women and children

Pregnant woman and her healthcare provider, with a focus on the woman’s belly and the provider’s clipboard.

In an editorial, Diana W. Bianchi, M.D., NICHD Director and Matthew W. Gillman, M.D., S.M., emphasize that women and children bear a substantial burden of the U.S. opioid epidemic and that coordinated, long-term research is essential to filling knowledge gaps about how opioids affect women and children.

Media Advisory: NICHD chronicles its major research advances of 2018

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As 2018 winds down, a new slideshow highlights a selection of initiatives, therapies, and scientific advances supported by NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).

Spotlight: Selected NICHD Research Advances of 2018

In 2018, researchers funded by NICHD made significant progress in advancing the health and well-being of infants, children, teenagers, and adults across the United States and around the world.

Podcast: Menstruation as a Diagnostic Tool for Women’s Health

Dr. Candace Tingen with NICHD’s Gynecological Health and Disease Branch speaks about the possibilities of tapping a woman’s menstrual cycle for signs of disease. Listen to our latest podcast.

Science Update: NIH-funded researchers produce uterine cells from adult stem cells

Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have produced human uterine endometrial cells from adult stem cells. The findings could lead to a way to produce new uterine cells from a patient’s own tissues, which could then be used to treat uterine disorders such as endometriosis, uterine factor infertility, and early-stage endometrial cancer.

Item of Interest: NICHD announces gynecologic health and disease research themes and scientific vision

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The Gynecologic Health and Disease Branch recently published its scientific vision. The document summarizes its research themes, which provide direction for future research.

Spotlight: What to Know About Endometriosis

Understanding endometriosis, causes and treatment, is part of NICHD’s mission. Learn more about signs and symptoms.

Focus on Women’s Health Research

NICHD research aims to improve understanding of diseases and conditions that affect women.

Selected NICHD Research Advances of 2016

NICHD had a very productive year in 2016. Staff responded quickly to Zika virus and led the effort to develop the NIH Research Plan on Rehabilitation. The following snapshots are examples of the many advances made possible by NICHD this year.

Getting to Know the New NICHD Director

NICHD Director Dr. Diana Bianchi shares some thoughts about joining NICHD.

Endometriosis linked to increased risk for heart disease, NIH-funded study finds

Endometriosis—an often painful gynecologic condition resulting when uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus—may increase the risk for heart disease, according to a study funded by NICHD and the National Cancer Institute.

Researchers identify source of inflammatory cells in endometriosis

Researchers have discovered the source of a cell type central to endometriosis, an oftentimes painful disease that occurs when tissue that lines the inside of the uterus grows outside of the uterus.

Pelvic pain may be common among reproductive-age women, NIH study finds

Diagram of bodily areas where women reported feeling pain.

A high proportion of reproductive-age women may be experiencing pelvic pain that goes untreated, according to a study by researchers from the National Institutes of Health and the University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City.

Promoting the Health of Women

Group of women from different generations

NICHD conducts and supports research on health issues that are unique to women and on how certain diseases affect men and women differently.

Annual Report Highlights Population Health Research Findings

The NICHD’s Division of Intramural Population Health Research (DIPHR) provides research updates in its newly released annual report for 2014.

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