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.
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.
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.
Item of Interest: NIH and partners launch public-private effort to advance pediatric medical device development
NIH today announced the launch of the design phase of a public-private partnership addressing the lack of medical devices designed and approved for children in the United States. In this initial phase, NIH and partners will develop a detailed plan to build and launch a partnership that will bring together the resources of U.S.
government agencies and private sector organizations, including industry and non-profits.
Spotlight: Novel Mobility Survey Taps Prosthesis Users’ Perspectives to Guide Care
A self-report tool developed with NICHD funding gathers feedback from lower-limb prosthesis
wearers to better assess mobility challenges and inform treatment. Its use in clinical settings worldwide is
changing the rehabilitation landscape and spurring the creation of similar tools for other audiences.
Director's Corner: Supporting Small Business Innovations
Small businesses play a critical role in driving scientific progress by helping to move innovations out of labs and into the public marketplace. NICHD grants to small businesses have supported development of products ranging from the first FDA-approved endometriosis treatment to at-home rehabilitation devices.
Selected NICHD Research Advances of 2022
Read about NICHD’s research findings and activities from 2022.
Release: NIH announces winners of 2022 DEBUT Challenge
The nine winning teams and five honorable mentions designed technology solutions to unmet health care needs.
Spotlight: Selected NICHD Research Advances of 2021
Read about NICHD’s research findings and activities from 2021.
Item of Interest: NIH Research Plan on Rehabilitation Now Available
The newly published 2021 NIH Research Plan on Rehabilitation reflects advances since the previous plan was released in 2016 and new directions that will help guide rehabilitation research across NIH for the next five years.
Media Advisory: High dose of concentrated therapy produces several lasting benefits for children with cerebral palsy
Findings on Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) may inform updates to clinical practice guidelines.
Spotlight: Women in Science: Alison Cernich: A Practice in Resilience and Compassion
Read about the career and achievements of NICHD Deputy Director Dr. Alison Cernich.
Director's Corner: Reflecting on our Science Advances in 2020
2020 was a year filled with many challenges. NICHD remained focused on our core mission, advancing key research in women’s health, reproductive science, rare childhood diseases and many more. Watch the video below and review our research highlights of 2020.
Spotlight: Selected NICHD Research Advances of 2020
Read about NICHD’s research findings and activities from 2020.
Spotlight: Medical Rehabilitation Research Center Marks 30th Anniversary
The National Center for Medical Rehabilitation was established in 1990 through the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act.
Director's Corner: Celebrating 30 Years of Medical Rehabilitation Research
Our National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research has advanced the field with significant achievements over the past 30 years that have improved the health, independence and quality of life of people with disabilities.
Director's Corner: It’s a Family Matter: The NIH INCLUDE Project
The pandemic reinforces why the NIH INCLUDE (INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE) Project matters to families and communities.
Director's Corner: Push to IMPROVE health outcomes for pregnant women
NIH has launched a new initiative that will combat the growing problem of maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States.
Item of Interest: Theresa Cruz appointed director of NICHD’s National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research
Theresa Hayes Cruz, Ph.D., has been selected as director of the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR).
Item of Interest: NICHD Selects Six Infrastructure Centers to Promote Rehabilitation Research
The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development recently selected six centers for its Medical Rehabilitation Research Resource Network.
Spotlight: Selected NICHD Research Advances of 2019
Read about NICHD’s notable research findings and activities from 2019.