News, announcements, and research (including studies funded by NICHD)
- July 28, 2016:
SciCafe Special Event: Zika—What You Need to Know
American Museum of Natural History
A panel of experts, including Dr. Catherine Y. Spong, Acting Director of NICHD, discusses efforts to combat the Zika virus, which has been linked to serious birth defects.
- July 26, 2016:
Improving Birth Outcomes Key to Improving Global Health
The Journal of the American Medical Association
Dr. Catherine Y. Spong, Acting Director of NICHD, writes that improving birth outcomes can improve lifelong health for both the mother and child, benefitting entire families and communities.
- July 21, 2016:
Toddler Learn Words Poorly in Noisy Environments
STAT
Research funded in part by NICHD finds that toddlers have a hard time learning new words in a noisy environment.
- July 20, 2016:
Maternal Antiretroviral Therapy May Eliminate HIV Transmission From Mother to Infant via Breast Milk
International Business Times
A three-drug antiretroviral drug regimen may keep breastfeeding infants from getting HIV from their mothers, finds research supported in part by NICHD.
- July 19, 2016:
New Study from Duke Links Prepregnancy Obesity to Infant Growth
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Mothers who were obese before pregnancy had infants who weighed more and were larger in size by age 2, on average, than were those born to mothers with weights in the healthy range, finds research funded in part by NICHD.
- July 18, 2016:
Caffeine? Boxers or Briefs? Laptop Use? Study Seeks Clues to Fertility, Including Men's
WBUR
NICHD's Dr. Enrique F. Schisterman discusses some of the goals and challenges of studying male fertility.
- July 18, 2016:
Study Identifies a New Rare Genetic Syndrome Associated With Severe Infections and Lung Disease in Infants
Baylor College of Medicine
Researchers, supported in part by NICHD, identify a chromosome breakage syndrome associated with severe infections and lung disease in infants.
- July 18, 2016:
Income, Education Gaps Influence Breastfeeding, But Policy and Family History Are Factors Too
Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute
A study, funded in part by NICHD, of racial and ethnic disparities in breastfeeding outcomes identifies multiple factors that influence breastfeeding rates among different racial and ethnic groups..
- July 14, 2016:
Olympic Games Create Novel Opportunity to Study Zika Virus
Family Practice News
Researchers at the University of Utah, with NICHD funding, plans to monitor Olympic athletes, coaches, and staff for potential exposure to the Zika virus.
- July 14, 2016:
Could Paracetamol Render You Infertile?
The Daily Mail
NICHD research finds a correlation between high levels of paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, in men's urine and infertility.
- July 14, 2016:
An Early Bedtime for Kids May Fight Weight Gain
The New York Times
Preschoolers who go to bed before 8 p.m. are less likely to be obese as teens, according to a recent analysis of NICHD research data.
- July 12, 2016:
Why Are We Still Waiting for the Male Pill?
New Republic
Dr. Diana Blithe speaks about NICHD's involvement in studying male contraceptive drugs.
- July 12, 2016:
Male Circumcision, HIV Treatment Can Significantly Reduce Infections in African Men
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Research in rural Uganda, supported in part by NICHD, finds prevention strategies such as male circumcision and antiretroviral therapy are effective at reducing the rate of new male HIV infections.
- July 12, 2016:
Alzheimer's Gene May Show Effects on Brain Starting in Childhood, Study Suggests
Alzheimer's Society
A gene associated with a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease may also be associated with differences in brain development during childhood, finds research supported in part by NICHD.
- July 11, 2016:
SIDS and Daycare: the Connection and What You Can Do
BabyCenter
This article highlights research on why Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) might be more common in daycare settings and points readers to the NICHD-led Safe to Sleep® campaign, which provides information on safe sleep practices for parents and other caregivers, including daycare workers.
- July 11, 2016:
Measuring Damage to Brain Networks May Aid Stroke Treatment, Predict Recovery
Washington University in St. Louis
Functional brain scans that measure damage to the brain's communication network may help predict stroke recovery, suggests research funded in part by NICHD.
- July 10, 2016:
Beverage and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Maritime News
A study supported in part by NICHD finds that drinking beverages with a high concentration of added sugar may increase the risk of heart disease.
- July 5, 2016:
Study on Zika Exposure Seeks to Include Some Athletes, USOC Staff
USA Today
This NICHD-funded a study will monitor exposure to the Zika virus among athletes at the Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Brazil.
- July 5, 2016:
Neuroscience Study Identifies New Trigger Mechanism for Fragile X Syndrome in Mice
Tufts University
Research funded in part by NICHD finds a possible trigger for Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of intellectual disability.
- July 4, 2016:
How Cute Things Hijack Our Brains and Drive Behaviour
The Conversation
Cute things, such as babies and puppies, grab our attention through all of our senses, activating brain regions associated with caregiving and bonding behaviors, according to a review of research from NICHD and other institutions.
- July 2, 2016:
As Experts Confront the Hazards of Zika, Fear and Uncertainty Hover
The New York Times
Dr. Catherine Y. Spong, Acting Director of NICHD, says doctors still don't have a lot of information to help them quantify risks of Zika virus infection for pregnant patients.
- July 2, 2016:
Teen Drivers' Brains May Hold the Secret to Combating Road Deaths
The Washington Post
NICHD research on teen driving behaviors suggests that getting a closer look inside teen cars and teen brains can further inform research on risks for car crashes.
- June 29, 2016:
Blue-Collar Training in High School Leaves Women Behind, UT Study Says
The University of Texas at Austin
Vocational training without a strong college preparatory curriculum, common in some high schools, helps men find blue-collar jobs, but penalizes women and contributes to a gender pay gap that leaves women making less money on average than men, according to research funded in part by NICHD.
- June 29, 2016:
Testosterone Therapy Improves Sexual Interest, Function in Older Men
Endocrine Society
Research supported in part by NICHD shows that testosterone therapy may help some older men improve their sex lives.
- June 27, 2016:
Babies Who Stand Earlier May Do Better in Preschool
HealthDay
Babies who hit milestones, such as crawling and standing, earlier have higher scores on some developmental tests at age 4 years, according to NICHD research.
- June 21, 2016:
Research Needed to Help Treat Children Affected by Zika
The Huffington Post
Dr. Catherine Y. Spong, Acting Director of NICHD, writes about a new NIH-funded study of outcomes for pregnant women and their babies who live in areas with the Zika virus.
- June 21, 2016:
Multi-Country Zika Study in Mothers-to-Be, Babies
U.S. News & World Report
NICHD, together with other NIH Institutes, launches a large international study of pregnant women in countries with the Zika virus.
- June 21, 2016:
Drones Could Be Cheaper Alternative to Delivering Vaccines in Developing World
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Findings from a study partly supported by NICHD find that unmanned drones could offer an effective method of delivering vaccines and medications to rural areas without reliable road networks.
- June 20, 2016:
How Gestational Diabetes Puts Babies at Lifelong Risk for Cardiovascular Disease, Under Study
Augusta University
Using NICHD funding, researchers are studying how a mother's gestational diabetes increases her child's risk of getting type 2 diabetes or hypertension later in life.
- June 16, 2016:
BC Children's Hospital Researchers Discover an Early Warning Sign of Transplant Rejection
Child & Family Research Institute
High levels of a particular protein could be an early sign of complications for blood and bone marrow transplant patients, finds research supported in part by NICHD.
- June 15, 2016:
Zika Infection Late in Pregnancy Carries Little Risk of Microcephaly
NPR
Dr. Catherine Y. Spong, Acting Director of NICHD, comments on a Colombian study that showed babies whose mothers were infected with the Zika virus in the third trimester did not have abnormalities at birth. Dr. Spong cautions that the study included only symptomatic women and that more research is needed to see the long-term effect of the virus on a baby's development.
- June 15, 2016:
Adequate Intake of Folic Acid during Pregnancy Can Prevent Childhood Obesity
Tech Times
Women who get adequate folate during pregnancy have children who are less likely to struggle with obesity, NICHD-funded research finds.
- June 14, 2016:
CSUF Autism Researchers Given a $412K Grant
The Orange County Register
California State University at Fullerton (CSUF) researchers receive a grant from NICHD to study how emotional patterns in children with autism can predict risks for other problems.
- June 14, 2016:
Youth with Parents and Household Members in Prison More Likely to Have First Baby before Marriage
Princeton University
Youth who are between ages 10 and 14 when a household member goes to prison are at a 41 percent greater risk of having a child before marriage, finds research funded by NICHD.
- June 14, 2016:
Exercise Builds Stronger Bones, Even in Children With Genetic Risk
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
High-impact activities, such as gymnastics and soccer, build bone density even in children with genetic risk factors for bone fragility, finds a study supported by NICHD.
- June 13, 2016:
Too Much Sleep Is Just as Dangerous as Too Little Sleep in Developing Gestational Diabetes
MD Magazine
NICHD research finds that getting too much or too little sleep during pregnancy is associated with a greater risk of developing gestational diabetes.
- June 13, 2016:
Faculty Affiliated With UI DeLTA Center Receive $5.77 Million Grant
The University of Iowa
Iowa researchers secure an NICHD grant to study how children learn to divide the world into categories, such as understanding the difference between dogs, trees, and cars.
- June 10, 2016:
So You're Going to a Place with Zika? Here's What You Need to Know
NPR
Dr. Catherine Y. Spong, Acting Director of NICHD, comments on a story about precautions for pregnant women and couples who are planning travel to Zika-infected countries.
- June 9, 2016:
In the Brain, One Area Sees Familiar Words as Pictures, another Sounds out Words
Georgetown University Medical Center
Neuroscientists find that once a word is known by the reader, sounding it out is unnecessary. The study, supported by NICHD, could affect reading instruction and treatment for disorders.
- June 8, 2016:
Researchers Awarded $2.4M NIH Grant to Study Leading Genetic Cause of Autism
University of Kansas
NICHD funds a 10-year study into the effects of parenting on adolescents with Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of intellectual and developmental disability.
- June 7, 2016:
Risk of Autism With Intellectual Disability Linked With Maternal Immune Dysfunction During Pregnancy
University of California Davis Health System
Pregnant women with high levels of certain inflammatory proteins may be at a greater risk of having a child with both autism and intellectual disability, according to research funded in part by NICHD.
- June 7, 2016:
Anesthesia Is Safe in the Young, Study Finds
Columbia University Medical Center
A single exposure to general anesthesia before age 3 years does not harm children's brain development, finds research supported in part by NICHD.
- June 6, 2016:
Understanding Zika Virus Pathogenesis: an Interview with Catherine Spong
BMC Medicine
A Q&A with Dr. Catherine Y. Spong, Acting Director of NICHD, on research into the effects of the Zika virus during pregnancy.
- June 6, 2016:
The Rise of Intimate Partner Violence During the Great Recession
Princeton University
Mothers who are in relationships during a recession are at risk for domestic violence, finds research supported in part by NICHD.
- June 4, 2016:
Cleveland State Research Explores Childhood Mobility
Crain's Cleveland Business
The NICHD-supported GoBabyGo Program at Cleveland State University adapts toy vehicles for children with mobility impairments.
- June 2, 2016:
Who's the Best Judge of Moms and Dads?
The Huffington Post
Analysis of data from an NICHD study tests a statistical method intended to control for discrepancies in how people say they parent and how they actually parent. - June 2, 2016:
How the Great Recession Weighed on Children
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Researchers partly funded by NICHD associate increased obesity rates among students in California public schools with increasing statewide unemployment between 2008 and 2012, suggesting economic troubles could have health consequences for children.
- June 1, 2016:
Stepfamily Ties Into Adulthood
Penn State News
Adolescents who feel close to their mothers are also likely to have a closer relationship with their stepfathers, finds research funded in part by NICHD.
- May 31, 2016:
Why Are Blacks at Higher Risk for Cognitive Impairment?
Michigan State University
A study supported in part by NICHD finds that socioeconomic factors likely play a role in why blacks face a higher risk of developing cognitive impairments, including dementia, than do whites later in life.
- May 30, 2016:
Increased Marrying, and Mating, by Education Level Not Affecting Genetic Make-Up
New York University
In recent decades, people were more likely to choose partners with education levels similar to themselves, but that does not seem to have significantly altered the genetic makeup of subsequent generations, finds research supported in part by NICHD.
- May 27, 2016:
International Grant Funds HIV Research
Berea Mail
NICHD funds a program that aims to keep HIV-positive men enrolled in anti-retroviral therapy in South Africa.
- May 26, 2016:
Health Officials to New Parents: "This Side Up"
CBS 46
The Georgia Department of Public Health distributes onesies to new parents with "this side up" printed on the front in an effort to remind parents that babies sleep safest on their backs, the central recommendation of the NICHD-led Safe to Sleep® campaign.
- May 26, 2016:
Las Vegas Police Promote Safe Sleeping Tips for Infants
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Following a number of sleep-related infant deaths, Las Vegas police remind the public to follow safe sleep recommendations from the NICHD-led Safe to Sleep® campaign.
- May 26, 2016:
Rocky Marriages Not Always Bad for Your Health
Michigan State University
Yet another way men and women differ: For men, an
unhappy marriage is associated with a lower risk of diabetes; but for women, a
happy marriage is associated with a lower risk of diabetes, according to research funded in part by NICHD.
- May 24, 2016:
How Helpless Babies Helped Make Humans so Smart
The Washington Post
NICHD-supported research finds a correlation between primates' longer weaning times and higher intelligence.
- May 24, 2016:
Teaching Kids to Care
Bethesda Magazine
NICHD's Dr. James A. Griffin shares how parents can talk with their children about empathy and emotionally complex issues, such as homelessness.
- May 24, 2016:
Study Shows Which New Moms Post the Most on Facebook
The Ohio State University
A study, funded in part by NICHD, of highly educated mothers with full-time jobs found that those who felt societal pressure to be "perfect" moms posted more frequently to Facebook than did their peers.
- May 23, 2016:
Study Shows Disparities in Treatment for Children With Traumatic Brain Injuries
University of Washington
Children on Medicaid or with limited English proficiency may face barriers to getting rehabilitation treatment after traumatic brain injuries, finds a study supported in part by NICHD.
- May 19, 2016:
Changing a Life Path for Dropouts
Duke University
Research supported in part by NICHD finds that risk for negative life outcomes among high school dropouts declines if they receive treatment for behavioral, emotional, or drug problems as young adults.
- May 19, 2016:
What Happens to Your Brain When a Baby Cries?
University of Toronto
NICHD's Dr. Marc H. Bornstein and colleagues describe research on the effect hearing a baby laugh or cry has on adults' brain activity.
- May 19, 2016:
Enzyme Pair Play Crucial Role in Maintaining Balance of Cellular Processes
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Researchers funded in part by NICHD find that two enzymes, known to be involved in breaking down and recycling proteins, play a vital role in moving proteins across membranes in brain cells.
- May 19, 2016:
Can White Kids Grow Up to Be Black? Some Preschoolers Think So
CBS Detroit
Although children may be aware of races other than their own, they don't have a strong understanding of what race is or that race is stable over time, finds a study supported in part by NICHD.
- May 19, 2016:
Factor Preserves DNA Integrity in Bacteria Despite Assault from Antibiotics
NYU Langone Medical Center
Researchers, including NICHD's Mike Cashel, find that manipulating a certain molecule may make bacteria more vulnerable to antibiotics.
- May 17, 2016:
Who Should Be Worried About Zika and What Should They Do?
NPR
Dr. Catherine Y. Spong, Acting Director of NICHD, discusses the Zika virus and the risks to pregnant women and their partners and to people with weakened immune systems.
- May 17, 2016:
Rare Tumor May Cause ADHD Symptoms in Some Kids
Live Science
Certain rare tumors may cause symptoms that mirror attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, leading to inappropriate treatment that can make symptoms worse and endanger health, according to researchers from NICHD and the NIH Clinical Center.
- May 16, 2016:
Stillbirth Is More Common Than You Think — and We're Doing Little About it
The Washington Post
Article discusses stillbirth in the United States and includes comments from NICHD's Dr. Uma M. Reddy, who notes that researchers don't understand why most stillbirths happen.
- May 12, 2016:
How Media Content Influences Teenage Behavior
University of Pennsylvania
NICHD-supported researchers analyze how popular TV shows and movies portray risky behaviors, such as violence and sex, with a focus on media with racially diverse casts that are popular with African-American youth.
- May 11, 2016:
Studies of Pregnant Mice With Zika Cement Microcephaly Link
Reuters
A study funded in part by NICHD and published in the journal
Cell adds to thegrowing body of evidence that the Zika virus causes microcephaly in developing fetuses.
- May 10, 2016:
Report: Bullying Is a Serious Public Health Problem
Associated Press
Childhood bullying hurts both bullies and kids who are being bullied, but schools' zero-tolerance policies are ineffective in combating the problem, according to research partly supported by NICHD.
- May 10, 2016:
When the Physical World Is Unreliable
University of Rochester Medical Center
NICHD-funded research suggests that the brains of people with schizophrenia may have trouble with "adaptation"—the process of determining whether sensory information is important, and then filtering out what is repeated or irrelevant.
- May 9, 2016:
Child's Obesity Tied to Mother's Pregnancy Weight: Study
HealthDay News
Children whose mothers gain too much weight or whose blood sugar is elevated during pregnancy are at a greater risk for obesity, finds research supported in part by NICHD.
- May 9, 2016:
Experts Get Serious About Video Games to Promote Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Children
Baylor College of Medicine
Researchers funded in part by NICHD explore strategies to get children to eat more fruits and vegetables.
- May 9, 2016:
Withdrawn Children Display Predictable Brain Activity During Social Interactions
Stony Brook University
In a study partly funded by NICHD, scans show activity in different areas of the brain for children who are withdrawn during social interactions.
- May 6, 2016:
How to Promote Safe Sleep for Your Infant
U.S. News & World Report
NICHD's Marian Willinger discusses how to create a safe sleep environment for infants to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related causes of infant death.
- May 5, 2016:
Worrying About Being a Perfect Mother Makes it Harder to Be a Good Parent
The Conversation
This discussion of research, including some studies funded by NICHD, finds that mothers are under a lot of pressure to be "perfect" parents.
- May 5, 2016:
Study Contradicts Belief that Cancer Protects Against Alzheimer's
ScienceDaily
Contrary to other studies, University of Utah researchers, partly funded by NICHD, find that having cancer does not protect against Alzheimer's, but makes people less likely to live long enough to develop symptoms.
- May 5, 2016:
County Graduate Follows Serendipitous Path to Research
Peabody Gazette-Bulletin
NICHD's Dr. Tonja Nansel receives an alumni of the year award from Wichita State University and reflects on her research career at the NIH.
- May 4, 2016:
Newborn Screening Test Developed for Rare, Deadly Neurological Disorder
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Researchers supported in part by NICHD develop a test to screen newborns for Niemann-Pick type C using blood spot samples typically taken right after birth.
- April 30, 2016:
Exposure to Tobacco Smoke in the Home Increases Childhood Illnesses, Demand for Healthcare Services
American Academy of Pediatrics
NICHD-funded research finds that children who live with a smoker tend to visit the doctor or hospital more often than those not exposed to tobacco smoke.
- April 30, 2016:
Inadequate Cushion of Savings Tied to Increased Child Health Risks
American Academy of Pediatrics
Children in families without enough money set aside to cover 3 months of basic needs are more likely to be obese, have chronic illnesses, and have worse overall health than are children in wealthier families, according to a study funded in part by NICHD.
- April 29, 2016:
Breast Milk Linked to Significant Early Brain Growth in Preemies
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Preterm infants fed mostly breast milk during their first month outside the womb have larger brains by their due dates than do those who have small amounts of or no breastmilk, according to research supported in part by NICHD.
- April 28, 2016:
Genetic Variations Help Make Fraternal Twins More Likely
NPR
Research supported in part by NICHD finds that women with variations in two particular genes are 29 percent more likely to give birth to twins than are women without those gene variations.
- April 27, 2016:
Study: Even a Little Air Pollution May Have Long-Term Health Effects on Developing Fetus
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Pregnant women exposed to even low levels of air pollution are at greater risk for intrauterine inflammation, a condition associated with preterm birth, than are women not exposed to such pollution, finds research supported in part by NICHD.
- April 27, 2016:
New Study to Focus on Emotional Patterns of Children with Autism
California State University, Fullerton
NICHD funds a study to investigate different emotional patterns and tendencies in children with autism spectrum disorder.
- April 27, 2016:
Distance Language Intervention Helps Adolescents with Disabilities Communicate
University of California, Davis, MIND Institute
NICHD-funded researchers coach parents on how to help children with Fragile X syndrome develop or improve language skills.
- April 26, 2016:
Norovirus Costs Billions of Dollars Globally Each Year
CBS News
Globally, the stomach virus results in about $4.2 billion in health care costs and $60.3 billion in lost productivity costs each year, according to a study funded in part by NICHD.
- April 25, 2016:
Having 'The Talk': What We Say Matters
Parent Toolkit
Kids benefit when their parents talk with them about sex and relationships, notes the NICHD's Dr. Susan Newcomer in this blog.
- April 22, 2016:
Nationwide Children's, Wexner Medical Center Share $4 Million Grants for Infants
The Columbus Dispatch
These and other sites in the NICHD's Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network study care for pregnant women and infants.
- April 21, 2016:
GBHS Grads to Study at National Institutes of Health
Gulf Breeze News
NICHD is one of several NIH Institutes that provides training opportunities for recent college graduates who plan to apply to medical or graduate school.
- April 20, 2016:
Tighter Enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico Border Backfired, Researchers Find
Princeton University
Research supported in part by NICHD suggests that tighter security at the Mexican border has caused many undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States, rather than returning to Mexico.
- April 19, 2016:
Parenting Can Counteract Predisposed Antisocial Behavior
Yale Daily News
Toddlers with strong genetic risks for antisocial behavior traits—such as lack of empathy, remorse, and fear—are less likely to exhibit those traits if parents use positive reinforcement, finds a study supported in part by NICHD.
- April 19, 2016:
New Study Tests the Effectiveness of at-Home HIV Testing for Male Couples
University of Michigan
This NICHD-funded pilot program aims to determine if video counseling and in-home testing can help male couples manage HIV-related issues.
- April 18, 2016:
Healthy Diet May Cut Blood Pressure Risk After Pregnancy-Related Diabetes
Reuters
NICHD research finds that healthy eating may reduce the risk of high blood pressure in women who have had gestational diabetes.
- April 18, 2016:
SIDS Diagnoses Are Down. Why Isn't That Good News?
Slate
SIDS deaths have dropped dramatically over the last 20 years, thanks in part to the NICHD-led Safe to Sleep® campaign, but new research suggests that pathologists may be under-diagnosing SIDS deaths.
- April 18, 2016:
Early Analysis of Seattle's $15 Wage Law: Effect on Prices Minimal One Year After Implementation
University of Washington
Research partly funded by NICHD finds that most Seattle businesses did not raise prices on goods and services in the year after the city's minimum wage increased to $15.
- April 15, 2016:
UAB Observational Study of Zika Virus Infection During Pregnancy Begins in Brazil
University of Alabama at Birmingham
An NICHD-funded study in Brazil tests pregnant women and infants for the Zika virus and follows infants suspected of having the infection from birth until age 2 years.
- April 14, 2016:
Stillbirth Awareness Walk
Port Washington News
This article mentions the NICHD's Human Placenta Project, which aims to understand how placental problems cause or contribute to stillbirths.
- April 13, 2016:
Study Links Gang Membership and Depression
Michigan State University
Young people in gangs are much more likely to be depressed, have suicidal thoughts, and attempt suicide than their peers who are not gang members, according to a study funded in part by NICHD.
- April 13, 2016:
Preparing for Pregnancy: What to Do Right Now
Consumer Reports
Catherine Y. Spong, M.D., Acting Director of NICHD, emphasizes the benefits of getting healthy when considering pregnancy.
- April 13, 2016:
Expanding Insurance for Single-Embryo IVF
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Expanding insurance coverage for a type of in vitro fertilization known as "single-embryo transfer" could lead to improved health outcomes for the baby and lower health costs, according to a study, supported in part by NICHD.
- April 13, 2016:
Changes in State Policies Impact Fatal and Non-Fatal Assaults of Law Enforcement Officers
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
State policies regarding criminal sentencing and easy access to guns impact the number of fatal and non-fatal assaults on law enforcement officers, finds research supported in part by NICHD.
- April 12, 2016:
Coordinated Response Could Reduce Spread of Emerging Superbug in Health Facilities by More Than 75 Percent, Study Suggests
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
A simulation of how a "superbug" could spread among health care facilities finds that coordinated efforts between facilities has the potential to dramatically reduce the number of superbug infections. NICHD provided partial support for the research.
- April 11, 2016:
Study Identifies Effects of Hormonal Contraceptives on Anti-Viral Immunity
The Ohio State University
An NICHD-supported study of mice finds that injectable contraceptives may increase susceptibility to viral infections, but that estrogen may help mitigate the effect.
- April 11, 2016:
Brown University Continues to Participate in two NIH Maternal Fetal Care Networks
Women & Infants Hospital News
Hospital announces it will continue to participate in the 12-center Maternal Fetal Medicine Units Network as well as in the 15-center Neonatal Research Network.
- April 10, 2016:
Family Fundamentals: No Parent is Perfect, But Guidelines Can Help
Morrow County Sentinel
NICHD research provides the evidence base for parenting guidelines that help foster healthy communication between parents and children.
- April 8, 2016:
Children Gain Mobility at CSU's GoBabyGo Program
The Plain Dealer
Children with Down syndrome gain mobility skills and independence by learning to ride modified toy cars in a study funded by NICHD.
- April 7, 2016:
Black Women Turn to Internet to Battle Mystifying Illness
Ebony
Story cites NICHD as source of information about the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, a condition that may cause women to have menstrual cycle changes, weight problems, increased hair growth, ovarian cysts, and infertility.
- April 6, 2016:
Using Research to Help Stop Youth Violence
The Huffington Post
Catherine Y. Spong, M.D., Acting Director of NICHD, blogs about the Institute's work to understand and prevent youth violence.
- April 6, 2016:
Researchers Funded to Study Links Between Depression and Asthma
University of Buffalo
The university announces support from NICHD and other NIH Institutes for research into whether treating a depressed caregiver will improve a child's asthma.
- April 6, 2016:
Video: Genetic Defects Affect Development of the Adrenal Gland
Healio
NICHD's Scientific Director Constantine A. Stratakis, M.D., discusses genetic defects that affect adrenal gland development.
- April 6, 2016:
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Releases Statement on Use of Antenatal Corticosteroids in the Late Preterm Birth Period in Women at Risk for Preterm Birth
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Antenatal corticosteroid treatments for pregnant women at risk for late preterm delivery may help prevent respiratory complications in the newborn, NICHD research finds.
- April 5, 2016:
Take Steps to Keep Sleep Safe for Babies
Tallahassee Democrat
Cites NICHD Safe to Sleep® campaign material on helping babies stay safe during sleep times.
- April 4, 2016:
Nearly $6.3 Million NIH Grant Awarded to Center for Perinatal Biology
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
NICHD funds research exploring the effects of hypoxia on maternal health and fetal development.
- March 31, 2016:
Researchers Find a Protein Fertilization Catalyst
The Johns Hopkins News-Letter
Researchers funded by NICHD discover a molecule that increases the activity of sperm cells, allowing them to travel to egg cells. Identifying this molecule could be used to develop compounds for male contraception as well as for infertility treatments.
- March 31, 2016:
Could a New Class of Fungicides Play a Role in Autism, Neurodegenerative Diseases?
Science Daily
Some chemicals used to prevent fungus growth in fruit and vegetable crops produce gene expression changes in mouse brain cells that are similar to changes seen in people with autism and neurodegenerative diseases, finds a study funded in part by NICHD.
- March 31, 2016:
FAU Researcher Receives $2.9 Million NIH Grant for Bilingual Development Study
Florida Atlantic University
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University announce NICHD funding support for a longitudinal study on bilingual development in Spanish-speaking children.
- March 30, 2016:
Why Ultrasounds May Give Mothers with Zika a False Sense of Security
The Washington Post
Dr. Catherine Y. Spong, Acting Director of NICHD, comments on a journal report detailing the pregnancy of one woman with complications from Zika virus. Dr. Spong notes that scientists will need to study a large number of women infected with the Zika virus in order to provide appropriate guidance for pregnant women.
- March 30, 2016:
Classroom Program Increases School Breakfast Participation, Not Obesity
New York University
An NICHD-funded study finds that serving free breakfast in elementary and middle school classrooms does not increase obesity among students.
- March 29, 2016:
Children with Cushing Syndrome Have Higher Suicide Risk, Study Says
UPI
Children with Cushing syndrome are at increased risk for depression and suicide after treatment for the disorder, which includes removal of tumors, an NICHD study finds.
- March 29, 2016:
Endometriosis Increases Risk of Heart Disease in Young Women
NBC News
NICHD-supported research finds that women with endometriosis are at much higher risk for heart attacks, chest pain, and blocked arteries that are women without the condition.
- March 29, 2016:
Study: High Caffeine Intake Linked To Increased Risk of Miscarriage
CBS New York
NICHD researchers discuss their study finding that couples who consumed more than two caffeinated drinks a day in the weeks before conceiving have a higher risk of miscarriage.
- March 24, 2016:
In Human Development Research, Big Data Could Mean Better Results
Penn State News
Large amounts of data from human development studies have the potential to make medicine more powerful and useful, but organizational and technical barriers make it difficult for researchers to access this data, according to a review of databases supported in part by NICHD.
- March 24, 2016:
Study Shows Effectiveness of New HIV Therapy Drugs on Infected Children
Vaccine News Daily
Switching HIV-positive children older than 3 years of age to a new anti-HIV drug does not result in significantly higher rates of the virus rebounding, an NICHD-funded study finds.
- March 23, 2016:
Gene Changes Found to Strongly Improve Bone Density in Girls
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Gene variants known to affect bone density in adults also affect bone density in children—but only in girls, finds research supported in part by NICHD.
- March 23, 2016:
DHA Supplement Being Studied to Reduce Preterm Births
KU Medical Center News
An NICHD-funded researcher at the University of Cincinnati is studying whether a fatty acid supplement called DHA can help reduce the risk of early preterm birth.
- March 22, 2016:
Guest Perspective: Understanding and Treating Traumatic Brain Injury
Center for Deployment Psychology
NICHD's Dr. Alison Cernich, Director of the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, discusses screening veterans for traumatic brain injuries and co-occurring mental health conditions.
- March 21, 2016:
Studies Suggest Multilingual Exposure Boosts Children's Communication Skills
National Public Radio
NICHD-funded research suggests that children who grow up in multilingual environments are better able to see things from another person's perspective.
- March 21, 2016:
What Is Endometriosis?
U.S. News & World Report
NICHD's Dr. Pamela Stratton talks about treating endometriosis and how having the chronic disease may change a woman's perception of pain.
- March 14, 2016:
Excessive Fat in Legs of Children with Spina Bifida Suggests Increased Risk for Metabolic Disorders
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
An NICHD-funded study finds that high levels of fat in the leg muscles of children with meyelomeningocele, a type of spina bifida, may indicate an increased risk of metabolic disorders, such as diabetes.
- March 14, 2016:
Equipping Parents with Learning Activities Helps Close Cognitive Development Gap between Disadvantaged and High-Resourced Children
RTI International
According to an NICHD-funded study, teaching parents in low-income families educational activities they can do with their children helps close the gap in cognitive and psychomotor development scores often seen between low-income and higher-income children.
- March 10, 2016:
Trials Show Malaria Safely Treatable in Pregnant Women
MedPage Today
A two-medicine combination can safely and effectively treat malaria in pregnant women, finds research funded by NICHD.
- March 10, 2016:
FDA Approves Vanderbilt-Designed Indego Exoskeleton for Clinical and Personal Use
Vanderbilt University
A robotic outer skeleton, a project that received NICHD funding for its development, allows people who are paralyzed below the waist to walk.
- March 10, 2016:
School of Public Health Receives $3M Grant for Research on Black Families
The Michigan Daily
NICHD funds the University of Michigan's School of Public Health to study the influence of father-son relationships on health risks for black teenage boys.
- March 7, 2016:
Unplanned Pregnancies Hit Lowest Level in 30 Years
The New York Times
The rate of unintended pregnancies declined in almost every demographic group between 2008 and 2011, according to a study funded in part by NICHD.
- March 7, 2016:
Preemies' Gut Bacteria Reveal Vast Scope of Antibiotic Resistance
Washington University in St. Louis
A study partly funded by NICHD helps researchers understand how bacteria that colonize the guts of preterm infants develop resistance to antibiotics.
- March 4, 2016:
Alarming New Data Shows High Risk of Birth Defects in Zika-Affected Pregnancies
STAT
Dr. Catherine Y. Spong, Acting Director of NICHD, discusses the significance of a small study that tracked the outcomes of pregnant women infected with the Zika virus.
- March 4, 2016:
Model Aims to Tell Researchers How Infection Passes Placenta
Yahoo News
Researchers, supported in part by NICHD, build a model of the placenta to study how infections pass from the mother to the developing fetus.
- March 3, 2016:
Accepting a Job below One's Skill Level can Adversely Affect Future Employment Prospects
University of Texas at Austin
People employed below their skill level are about half as likely as people employed at their skill level to receive a callback when they apply for new jobs, finds research partly funded by NICHD.
- March 3, 2016:
Woman's Condom Achieves WHO/UNFPA Prequalification
PATH
A new female condom that NICHD research helped bring to market is prequalified for public-sector distribution by the World Health Organization/United Nations Population Fund.
- March 3, 2016:
Viral Remnants Help Regulate Human Immunity
The Scientist
Article quotes NICHD's Dr. Todd Macfarlan on a study suggesting that humans may have adopted some retroviral sequences into our genome millions of years ago to help respond quickly to infections.
- March 1, 2016:
Family Support Buffers the Physiological Effects of Racial Discrimination
Association for Psychological Science
Among African American teens, a supportive family environment can help protect against the premature aging of cells and tissues that results from experiencing chronic racial discrimination, per research funded in part by NICHD.
- March 1, 2016:
Data-Sharing Video Library Aids Developmental Studies
Penn State News
NICHD-supported researchers expand the "Databrary" Web-based video-data library to share research information worldwide.
- March 1, 2016:
Traffic Pollution Tied to Preterm Birth Risk for Asthmatic Women
Helena Independent Record
Exposure to some pollutants commonly found in vehicle exhaust may increase the risk of preterm birth in women with asthma, NICHD research finds.
- February 29, 2016:
Students Binge Drink Less in Locales With More Affirmative LGBTQ School Climates
University of Pittsburgh
According to a study funded in part by NICHD, heterosexual and gay and lesbian students who live in states with schools that have more programs and policies to support them, report fewer cases of binge drinking than counterparts in states without as many supportive programs.
- February 29, 2016:
Mitochondrial Replacement Techniques Are 'Ethically Permissible' and Worthy of Clinical Study, US Panel Advises
Mitochondrial Disease News
A U.S. panel of experts, including NICHD's Dr. Alan DeCherney, considers potential risks and ethical implications of mitochondrial replacement techniques.
- February 26, 2016:
Rethinking the Work-Life Equation
The New York Times Magazine
Research funded in part by NICHD looks into how companies can support flexibility and work-life balance for employees.
- February 26, 2016:
Children's Gets $32.5M for Heart Research
Cincinnati Enquirer (Survey Input Required)
NICHD and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute award funds for research into the genetic and biological mechanisms of heart defects.
- February 24, 2016:
Slaughter Announces Research Grants for UR
Rochester Business Journal
NICHD awards funds to the University of Rochester for research into how children learn mathematics.
- February 23, 2016:
Everyday Mindfulness Linked to Healthy Glucose Levels
Brown University
Researchers from Brown and NICHD find that people who are more mindful, or aware of their present thoughts and feelings, are more likely to have healthy glucose levels than are people who are less mindful.
- February 22, 2016:
Vaginal Ring With Drug Lowers HIV Rates in African Women
The New York Times
A vaginal ring that releases antiviral drugs reduces the rate of new HIV infections in a study partly funded by NICHD.
- February 22, 2016:
One Drug Used to Prevent HIV Transmission During Pregnancy Shows Evidence of Developmental Effects
Wolters Kluwer
Research supported in part by NICHD finds that a drug sometimes used to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission may have a minor effect on children's language and social-emotional development.
- February 22, 2016:
5 Potential Signs of Endometriosis That You Should Know
Bustle
Pelvic pain and infertility may be signs of endometriosis, a gynecological disorder that NICHD studies.
- February 17, 2016:
Men on Testosterone: Marching Feistier — and a Little Happier — Into Old Age
Los Angeles Times
Men older than age 65 who take testosterone supplements have better sex and walk with more of "a spring in their step" than do those who do not take the supplements, finds a study supported in part by NICHD.
- February 17, 2016:
Safe Infant Sleep Tips for Grandparents
NJ.com
The Safe to Sleep® campaign reminds grandparents that ways to keep babies safe during sleep may have changed since they had children and offer the latest recommendations.
- February 16, 2016:
Predicting if Young Men Will Live With Their Kids
Northwestern University
Teen boys' attitudes toward risky sex, pregnancy, and birth control can help predict later patterns of fatherhood and behavior, according to NICHD-funded research.
- February 15, 2016:
Blood-Boosters May Give Tiny Preemies a Developmental Edge
Fox News
NICHD-funded research finds that giving preterm infants two medications to boost red blood cells soon after birth may help make up for some of the developmental delays that preemies typically experience.
- February 11, 2016:
Faulty Bioelectric Signal Responsible for Facial Defects Caused by Rare Genetic Disorder
Tufts University
Researchers funded in part by NICHD link faulty bioelectric signals during embryonic development to craniofacial deformities common to a rare genetic disorder called Andersen-Tawil syndrome.
- February 10, 2016:
Whole Zika Genome Recovered From Brain of Baby With Microcephaly
New Scientist
Dr. Catherine Y. Spong, Acting Director of NICHD, discusses what researchers need to do to establish causality between Zika virus and microcephaly, as seen in cases in Brazil.
- February 9, 2016:
Physical Therapy Researcher Shows More Therapy Not Always Better
University of Southern California
The typical occupational therapy provided to stroke patients is as good at rebuilding arm and hand function as doubling up on therapy or doing an intensive program, NICHD-supported researchers find.
- February 4, 2016:
Bone Loss Associated with Leukemia Therapy Occurs Sonner than Previously Thought
Children's Hospital Los Angeles Newsroom
Researchers, supported in part by NICHD, find that significant bone loss associated with chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia begins the first month of treatment, much earlier than previously thought.
- February 4, 2016:
To Prevent Infection After C-Section, Chlorhexidine Better Than Iodine
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
A chlorhexidine-alcohol solution is better at preventing infections at C-section incision sites than is the common iodine-alcohol preparation, according to a study supported by NICHD.
- February 4, 2016:
Too Much, Too Little Sleep During Pregnancy May Prompt Weight Gain
U.S. News & World Report
NICHD researchers contribute to study examining the sleep durations in pregnant women and the impact on gestational weight gain.
- February 3, 2016:
Practice Makes Perfect: Switching Between Languages Pays Off
Concordia University
Research supported in part by NICHD finds that bilingual children have better cognitive flexibility and selective attention skills than do monolingual children, possibly because of the mental control needed to switch between languages.
- February 3, 2016:
Contraception Fell, Medicaid Births Rose When Texas Defunded Planned Parenthood
NBC News
Texas researchers, supported in part by NICHD, find that women stopped using effective contraception and that government-supported Medicaid costs for childbirth increased after Texas legislators cut off funding to Planned Parenthood clinics.
- February 3, 2016:
Scripps Florida Scientists Win $1.2 Million to Study New Strategies for Treating Obesity, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Muscle Decline
The Scripps Research Institute
NICHD funds a project to develop drugs that affect molecules called nuclear receptors, which regulate gene expression. The research aims to devise treatments for several common conditions, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, muscle atrophy, and heart disease.
- February 2, 2016:
New Screening Method Detects All Cystic Fibrosis Mutations
UPI
NICHD-funded research leads to a new method of screening newborn babies for all types of cystic fibrosis that cuts the wait time for results from 2 weeks to about 3 days, allowing treatment to begin almost immediately.
- February 2, 2016:
Use of Antenatal Steroids During Late Preterm Delivery Prevents Neonatal Respiratory Complications
News Medical
NICHD researchers find that giving steroids to pregnant women at risk for late preterm delivery may reduce the possibility of severe respiratory problems in their newborns.
- February 2, 2016:
Study Shows Disruptions to Embryonic Reprogramming Alter Adult Mouse Behaviour
Scicasts
NICHD's Dr. Todd MacFarlan is among the scientists investigating how, in mice, a single defective enzyme present at fertilization can alter behavior throughout life.
- February 1, 2016:
Does Treatment of Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Pregnant Women Impact IQ in Offspring?
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Newsroom
The NICHD-funded Maternal Fetal Medicine Units Network finds that thyroid hormone replacement treatment for women who have thyroid problems during pregnancy does not benefit the children's later IQ.
- February 1, 2016:
Viral Gene Editing System Corrects Genetic Liver Disease in Newborn Mice
Penn Medicine
Researchers funded in part by NICHD use gene editing technology to treat newborn mice with a genetic liver disorder.
- January 31, 2016:
Microcephaly, Spotlighted by Zika Virus, Has Long Afflicted and Mystified
The New York Times
NICHD's Dr. Constantine Stratakis provides information on microcephaly, a rare condition in which an infant's head is abnormally small.
- January 29, 2016:
Maternal Obesity, Diabetes Tied to Increased Autism Risk in Kids
Reuters
A study funded partly by NICHD showed mothers who are obese and who have diabetes have almost 4 times the odds of having a child with autism.
- January 26, 2016:
Brain Structure Governing Emotion Is Passed Down From Mother to Daughter, Says UCSF Study
University of California, San Francisco News
A brain structure that plays a role in mood disorders and emotional processing is more likely to be passed from mothers to daughters than from mothers to sons or from fathers to children, according to research funded in part by NICHD.
- January 26, 2016:
Early Puberty Associated With Gestational Diabetes
Clemson University
Women who started their periods at a younger than average age have a higher risk for developing gestational diabetes (diabetes that occurs during pregnancy), finds a study by NICHD, Clemson, and other institutions.
- January 22, 2016:
Thompson Announces Grant for Development of Device to Assist Children Born Prematurely
Thompson Press Release
Pennsylvania Congressman Glenn Thompson announces an NICHD Small Business Innovation Research grant to Actuated Medical, Inc. The grant will support development of a device to help babies born prematurely breath more easily.
- January 21, 2016:
NYC Pedestrian Traffic Makes for Safer Street Crossings, But Billboards Are Dangerous: Google Street View Study
Columbia University
More pedestrian injuries tend to occur in areas with visual distractions such as billboards and bus stops, according to a study supported in part by NICHD.
- January 21, 2016:
Down Syndrome Is Thought to Hold Clues to Alzheimer's
The Wall Street Journal (Subscription required)
People with Down syndrome may be at risk for early-onset Alzheimer's disease. NICHD and other NIH Institutes are funding research into biomarkers to help detect the condition early and treat it.
- January 21, 2016:
Thompson Announces Grant for Development to Assist Children Born Prematurely
U.S. Rep. Glen Thompson News
An NICHD grant supports to Actuated Medical, Inc., in developing a medical device to gently remove mucus from tubes that help premature babies breathe.
- January 19, 2016:
Schools Offering Drinking Water May Have Slightly Slimmer Students
HealthDay
An NICHD-funded study finds that offering water in school cafeterias is associated with lower levels of obesity among students.
- January 15, 2016:
Air Pollution and Traffic Fumes Tied to Infertility Risk
Reuters
Women who live near major roads, where the air is more polluted, are slightly more likely to have fertility problems than women who live farther away, according to a study supported in part by NICHD.
- January 12, 2016:
Should Women Avoid Potatoes Before Pregnancy?
CBS News
Women who eat a lot of potatoes before pregnancy may be at greater risk of developing gestational diabetes, NICHD research finds. Simply replacing two servings of potatoes a week with other vegetables, legumes, or whole grains, is associated with a lower risk of gestational diabetes.
- January 11, 2016:
After Miscarriage, How Long Should Couples Wait to Try Again?
Reuters
An NICHD study indicates that in most cases, couples who have had a miscarriage do not need to wait before trying to become pregnant again, although they should consider whether they are emotionally ready for another pregnancy.
- January 11, 2016:
When a Big Baby Isn't So Big
The New York Times
NICHD-supported research sheds light on the difficulty of estimating the weight of a baby before birth.
- January 11, 2016:
Now NAO: Interactive Robot to Promote Rehabilitation for Children With Special Needs
University of Delaware
Researchers funded by NICHD build social robots to help children with disabilities.
- January 11, 2016:
Fifteen-Year National Survey of 'Fragile Families' Fuels Wide Range of Research
Princeton University
A long-term study supported in part by NICHD looks at the challenges faced by single-parent households.
- January 7, 2016:
'Window of Recovery' Can Reopen After Stroke
Johns Hopkins Medicine
The timeframe for people to recover motor function after strokes does not necessarily close permanently after the stroke, according to research supported in part by NICHD. More importantly, that window of opportunity for rehabilitation may reopen under certain conditions.
- January 6, 2016:
Long Before Learning ABCs, Tots Recognize Words Are Symbols
Associated Press
Toddlers recognize that words represent language in a way that drawings do not, even before they learn how to read or recite the alphabet, finds research funded in part by NICHD.
- January 6, 2016:
'Sticky Mittens' Offer Clues to Infant Development
Vanderbilt University
A Vanderbilt study, funded by NICHD, suggests that early motor training in infants may result in positive long-term effects in other areas of development.
- January 5, 2016:
When Are You Really an Adult?
The Atlantic
This article about physical and cultural markers of adulthood quotes NICHD's James Griffin on how the brain develops in puberty.
- January 4, 2016:
Study: In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Doesn't Contribute to Developmental Delays in Children
United Press International
NICHD researchers find no significant differences between children whose mothers had IVF treatment and those whose mothers conceived naturally in terms of the children's developmental delays.
- January 2, 2016:
Inadequate Provider Coordination Barrier to Young Adult Type 1 Diabetes Care
MedPage Today
According to research funded in part by NICHD, young adults with type 1 diabetes need better coordination and communication between their doctors than do those without the condition in the transition from pediatric to adult care.
Questions? Contact Meredith Daly in the Public Communications Branch:
dalym@mail.nih.gov. Please note that inclusion of an item on this page is not an endorsement.