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The Division of Intramural Research provides fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems through basic, clinical, and population-based research.

Antibodies given to pregnant people to target cytomegalovirus appeared to have no benefits for their children by age two, suggests a follow-up study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The virus can cross the placenta and infect the fetus and full effects of the infection during pregnancy may not appear until a child is two years old. Like the original study, the follow-up found no differences between children of pregnant individuals who received the treatment and those who received a placebo.

This collaboration will promote safe infant sleep with and within American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

A study funded by the National Institutes of Health has found that 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. Similarly, no increased miscarriage risk was found among roughly 1,500 couples whether the male partner was vaccinated before trying to conceive. The findings provide useful information on vaccination safety for couples planning pregnancy.

Using new ultrasound technology that can visualize and measure blood flow through extremely small blood vessels, researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have tracked the placenta’s development from the merging of placental cells with blood vessels in the uterus to a fully formed organ. The images and data provide a reference for normal placental development to help with comparison studies, tracking of placental development in healthy pregnancies, and identification of placental disorders that may lead to low birth weight, preterm birth, and other complications.

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.

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.

The National Institutes of Health will award up to $2 million in cash prizes to accelerate development of diagnostic and monitoring technologies that improve fetal health outcomes in low-resource settings. The Fetal Monitoring Challenge calls on scientists, engineers, and clinicians around the country to submit their innovative approaches and compete for prizes and additional resources to support technology development and clinical impact. The challenge seeks innovation in point-of-care and home-based diagnostic and monitoring technologies that may reduce fetal health risk and loss during and after birth.

The Division of Intramural Research provides fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems through basic, clinical, and population-based research.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique administered as early as the 14th week of pregnancy may predict the chances of impaired fetal growth. The technique measures the ability of the placenta to supply blood to the fetus. It appears to allow earlier diagnosis than the standard technique, ultrasound of the placenta, which can diagnose reductions in maternal blood flow to the placenta at 20 to 24 weeks. Earlier detection of fetal growth restriction and those at risk for being small for their gestational age at birth may lead to strategies for treating these conditions.

The effects of climate change on health are wide-ranging, from causing injuries and other medical concerns to disrupting vital supply chains. NICHD is committed to supporting scientific research to reduce climate-related health threats among its populations of interest—children, people of reproductive age, and people with intellectual and physical disabilities.

NIH has awarded $24 million in first-year funding to establish Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence. The centers will develop and evaluate innovative approaches to reduce pregnancy-related complications and deaths and promote maternal health equity.

Infants born to mothers with sleep-disordered breathing—snoring, apnea, and other breathing difficulties during sleep—are more likely to develop complications such as jaundice, low blood sugar, seizures, or death during the newborn period, suggests a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The authors called for studies to determine if treating mid-pregnancy, sleep-disordered breathing would improve infant outcomes.

A device known as a pessary, thought promising for reducing preterm birth risk due to a short cervix, appears no more effective than usual medical care, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. A pessary is a rounded silicone device that fits around a cervix that has shortened, to keep it from opening and leading to miscarriage or preterm birth. The device is typically removed before the 37th week of pregnancy.

Offspring of female nonhuman primates given a cannabis product during pregnancy had changes in their DNA expression like those seen in human children with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to a small study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The findings suggest that children whose mothers consume edibles or other products containing Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive substance found in cannabis, could experience permanent developmental changes.

A new guide developed by NICHD and its partners promises to standardize the exchange of clinical data on maternal and infant health. The guide is an important step toward establishing a common framework to help clinicians and scientists better understand the root causes and high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality.

NIH has announced the next round of winners of its Connecting the Community for Maternal Health Challenge—a $3 million prize competition to encourage community-based and advocacy organizations in the United States to develop the infrastructure and capabilities necessary to conduct maternal health research.

The Division of Intramural Research provides fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems through basic, clinical, and population-based research.

The health of pregnant individuals and new mothers in the nation’s prisons should be prioritized to avoid future public health crises from COVID-19, according to an analysis by NICHD-funded investigators. Recommended policy changes include early release, when possible, because pregnant people are at high risk from COVID-19, and prisons are not well-equipped to provide the necessary medical care. Moreover, prisons should promote COVID-19 vaccination and develop targeted messages for this population to counteract vaccine misinformation.