News
Dr. Bianchi reflects on NICHD’s accomplishments for 2019, including publication of a new strategic plan, renewal of a task force to guide research on therapies for pregnant and lactating women, and an initiative to research quality of life and health needs of people with Down syndrome.
NICHD shares selected highlights from its research, outreach, and collaborative efforts in 2019.
Pregnant women exposed to persistent organic pollutants, or POPs, had slightly smaller fetuses than women who were not exposed to these chemicals, according to an analysis by researchers at NIH and other institutions. POPs are chemicals that were once used in agriculture, disease control, and manufacturing processes. They are no longer produced in the United States but remain in the environment.
Identical twins with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience large differences in symptom severity even though they share the same DNA, according to an analysis funded by NIH. The findings suggest that identifying the causes of this variability may inform the treatment of ASD-related symptoms.
More than 20% of pregnant women beginning anti-HIV treatment were prescribed an antiretroviral treatment that did not meet federal guidelines for use during pregnancy, according to an analysis funded by NIH.
Pregnancy for Every Body educates plus-size pregnant women about healthy pregnancy and the importance of working with a healthcare provider to develop a pregnancy plan.
John Bennet Robbins, retired NICHD scientist and co-developer of a vaccine that has spared thousands of small children from a major cause of death and intellectual disability, has passed away after a long illness.
Nano-sized vesicles released by certain bacteria that inhabit the vagina may protect against HIV infection, suggests a study of human cells and tissues by researchers at NIH and the University of Bologna, Italy. Known as extracellular vesicles, these bubble-like particles are produced by many kinds of cells and are thought to transport molecules from one cell to another.
A drug called ISRIB (integrated stress response inhibitor) restored the normal function of cells from a person with the rare disorder MEHMO syndrome, according to researchers at NIH and other institutions.
NICHD supports a variety of resources and tools for researchers.
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PAT integrates placental data from publications and public databases into a single website for the research community. PAT offers analytic and imaging tools to support placental research, secondary analysis, and hypothesis generation.