News & Updates

NICHD issues Releases and Media Advisories to the news media. Science Updates and Spotlights explain NICHD research findings and public health issues to the general public. An Item of Interest is a short announcement such as an initiative launch or a notable staff change. Director’s Corner posts are monthly updates from the NICHD director.

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Science Update: Low vitamin D levels in early pregnancy linked to preterm birth risk

A pregnant woman holding a glass of water and a tablet, presumably vitamin D.

Compared to pregnant women with higher vitamin D levels, pregnant women with low vitamin D levels had greater risk of preterm birth. Their infants were also of shorter length.

Director's Corner: Charting a Roadmap for the Next Five Years

Photo of young child smiling and writing with a pencil with circles surrounding the image.

Released in January, the NICHD Strategic Plan 2025 lays out updated priorities to guide the institute’s research over the next five years. While our five major research goals are unchanged, we made substantial updates to reflect shifts in public health priorities and the evolution of new technologies.

Media Advisory: Excess weight gain in first trimester associated with fetal fat accumulation

Technician passes scanner over abdomen of pregnant woman lying on examination table.

Weight gain in first trimester linked with fetal fat gain. Findings may have implications for preventing early life forerunner of later life obesity.

Science Update: Healthy eating not common during and after pregnancy in the United States, NIH study suggests

Smiling pregnant woman eating a bowl of multicolored fruit.

Healthy eating during pregnancy may be uncommon in the United States. Pregnant women may not be making healthy food choices, swapping greens, legumes, and whole grains for fat and sugar. Overall, study participants scored a D on a scale ranging from A to F.

Science Update: Placental gene therapy corrects fetal growth complication in guinea pig model, according to NICHD-supported study

A black and white rendering of a placenta and cord against a black background.

Researchers tested gene therapy in a guinea pig model of fetal growth restriction caused by placental insufficiency, which occurs when the placenta fails to provide enough oxygen and nutrients to the developing fetus. Currently, there is no treatment for this complication.

Spotlight: Selected NICHD Research Advances of 2024

A young woman with Down syndrome smiles with her grandmother. Both are standing outside in front of a tree.

Read about select research advances supported by NICHD in 2024, including work on women’s health, child and adolescent health, medical rehabilitation, health disparities, and more.

Media Advisory: Abnormal prenatal blood test results could indicate hidden maternal cancers

Health care professional with a stethoscope examining a pregnant woman.

NIH researchers found previously undetected cancers in nearly half of pregnant women who had abnormal results for prenatal cell-free DNA testing used to screen for chromosomal disorders in the fetus.

Director's Corner: Enhancing Maternal and Women’s Health

Understanding and addressing a wide range of women’s gynecological and reproductive health issues are priorities for NICHD. Through research, the institute seeks to support and optimize the health of women throughout their lives.

Release: NIH announces prize winners in year-long challenge to develop fetal diagnostic and monitoring technologies

NIH has announced winners of its competition to accelerate the development of diagnostic and monitoring technologies to improve fetal health outcomes.

Spotlight: Scientific Advances from the Division of Intramural Research

Tiny pink dots clustered against a blue background. A fish fin is visible in the lower right corner.

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: Evaluating androgen levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome helps inform infertility treatments

Patient, seated, listening to medical professional.

High androgen levels were linked with low pregnancy rates in polycystic ovary syndrome. The findings may provide information to improve infertility treatment in patients with the condition.

Science Update: NIH researchers upgrade wearable device for monitoring placental oxygen levels

A health care worker listens to a pregnant woman’s abdomen with a stethoscope.

NIH researchers have upgraded a sensor that monitors placental oxygen levels, pairing it with sensors that monitor a pregnant woman’s breathing, heart rate, and uterine contractions, along with fetal movements.

Release: NIH announces winners of prize competition to improve postpartum maternal health and health equity through innovative diagnostics

A mother holding an infant and looking at a smartphone.

Eight winning teams developed home-based and point-of-care diagnostics, wearables and other accessible technologies to improve postpartum health outcomes in regions that have limited access to maternity care.

Science Update: High levels of certain forever chemicals during pregnancy linked to mid-life obesity, NIH-funded study suggests

Pregnant woman behind a shopping cart reading a package label.

High levels of some forever chemicals in pregnancy could lead to midlife obesity, a study suggests.

Item of Interest: NIH announces final winners of the Connecting the Community for Maternal Health Challenge

NIH announced the final winners of a 2-year prize competition that encouraged community-based organizations to develop the infrastructure and capabilities to conduct maternal health research.

Science Update: Thyroid hormone imbalance during early pregnancy may increase future risk of thyroid disease

Transparency showing the thyroid’s location in the throat.

Pregnant women with a thyroid hormone imbalance have a higher risk for low thyroid hormone a year after they give birth.

Science Update: “Eat, Sleep, Console” care approach improves breastfeeding in opioid-exposed newborns, study suggests

Closeup of adult hand holding infant foot.

Newborns managed with a new care approach for opioid withdrawal were more likely than those receiving traditional care to breastfeed. The findings provide evidence that the care approach may help increase breastfeeding among infants experiencing opioid withdrawal.

Science Update: Racial and ethnic minority women with disabilities face higher risk of unintended pregnancy, NICHD-funded study suggests

Medical professional with stethoscope attends to pregnant person in wheelchair.

Compared to White women without disabilities and other women of their own racial or ethnic group, minority women have a higher risk for unintended pregnancy.

Spotlight: Scientific Advances from the Division of Intramural Research

A transparent cell is visible against a blue background. Inside the cell are organelles, including the nucleus in the center, folded membranes like the Golgi bodies, and mitochondria.

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: Maternal age linked to changes in offspring DNA methylation, NICHD study suggests

A health care worker listens to a pregnant person’s abdomen with a stethoscope.

NICHD researchers found changes in DNA methylation of children born to older mothers. The children have changes in DNA tags, called methyl groups, which switch genes on and off. The findings may provide an explanation for the slightly higher health risks children born to older parents have.

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News & Updates