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NICHD leads research and training to understand human development, improve reproductive health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize abilities for all.
Institute research has led to significant improvements in health knowledge and treatments.
Research at NICHD
NICHD researchers have made significant contributions to science and medical care. Their work has yielded safe and effective vaccines for childhood infections, developed cutting-edge molecular imaging technologies, and provided new insights into the risks of certain environmental exposures among populations such as pregnant women, among other advances.
NICHD intramural researchers work on the NIH campus and at other U.S. locations to conduct innovative research. These programs also serve as a fertile training ground for pre- and postdoctoral scientists and physicians.
Research efforts include those administered by the NICHD:
- NICHD Organizational Information: Intramural Research Division
- NIH Intramural Research Program's Division of Intramural Research at NICHD
Research Funded by NICHD
NICHD supports investigators at universities and other research institutions to further its public health mission. This support enables more scientists to conduct biomedical, behavioral, and interventional research aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of children, families, and communities throughout the world.
NICHD’s extramural research has provided answers about the genetic causes of many types of intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as Rett syndrome and Fragile X syndrome. It also has helped inform medical care for pregnant women and newborn babies and rehabilitation practices for those affected by injury, trauma, and other disorders.
Research efforts include those administered by the NICHD:
- Division of Extramural Research
- Division of Extramural Activities
- National Center for Rehabilitation Research
Supported Research Networks & Initiatives
NICHD supports a variety of research networks, centers, programs, and initiatives. These types of projects allow for large-scale research efforts that could not be done in a timely manner by researchers working alone.
NICHD Research Highlights
Contributions to Society
Research conducted and funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) has helped save lives, improve wellbeing, and reduce societal costs associated with illness and disability. The following sections provide examples of groundbreaking scientific findings made possible by NICHD.
Datasets and Research Resources
Data sharing is essential to speed translation of research results into knowledge, therapies, and procedures to improve human health. NICHD is committed to sharing data from its research and supports a variety of resources and tools for researchers. These resources include tissue banks and repositories, datasets and databases, model organisms, genome and DNA sequences, and resource libraries.
National Reading Panel Publications
In 1997, Congress convened the National Reading Panel to assess the effectiveness of different approaches used to teach children to read. On April 13, 2000, the panel concluded its work and submitted its reports (an executive summary and full reports of the subgroups).