News & Updates

NICHD issues Releases and Media Advisories to the news media. Science Updates and Spotlights explain NICHD research findings and public health issues to the general public. An Item of Interest is a short announcement such as an initiative launch or a notable staff change. Director’s Corner posts are monthly updates from the NICHD director.

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Release: Anti-HIV drug combination does not increase preterm birth risk, study suggests

physician’s hands on a pregnant woman’s abdomen

A drug combination aimed at preventing transmission of HIV from a pregnant woman to her fetus likely does not increase the risk for preterm birth and early infant death, according to a re-analysis of two studies funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Science Update: Researchers identify potential genetic risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome

Room sharing: Mom in adult bed looks at on infant, who is sleeping in bassinet right next to the adult bed.

Mutations may impair breathing while under stress, suggests NIH-supported study

Release: Elevated blood pressure before pregnancy may increase chance of pregnancy loss

Pregnant woman sitting and having her blood pressure taken by a health care provider

Elevated blood pressure before conception may increase the chances for pregnancy loss, according to an analysis by researchers at the National Institutes of Health. The authors conclude that lifestyle changes to keep blood pressure under control could potentially reduce the risk of loss. The study appears in Hypertension.

Release: NIH study may help explain why iron can worsen malaria infection

Red blood cells infected with malaria parasites (purple).

Researchers identify protective role of iron export protein and its mutation

Release: Antiviral drug not beneficial for reducing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B when added to existing preventatives, study shows

Microscopy image of hepatitis B virus particles, which are colored orange against a blue background.

An antiviral drug commonly prescribed to treat hepatitis B infection does not significantly reduce mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus, according to a clinical trial funded by NIH.

Science Update: Folic acid, multivitamins before and during pregnancy may reduce autism risk, suggests NIH-funded study

Pregnant woman holding a glass of water in one hand and vitamin pills in the other hand.

Children born to women who took either folic acid or a daily multivitamin before or during pregnancy were less likely to have a child diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, compared to children whose mothers did not take any prenatal vitamins, according to researchers funded in part by the National Institutes of Health.

News Release: Iodine deficiency may reduce pregnancy chances, NIH study suggests

Foods containing iodine, including turkey breast, baked potato, navy beans, iodized salt, seaweed, shrimp, yogurt, codfish, prunes, milk, and canned tuna

Women with moderate to severe iodine deficiency may take longer to achieve a pregnancy, compared to women with normal iodine levels, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health.

Science Update: Preschool program to boost executive function leads to success in primary grades

A program to teach preschoolers pre-reading, social, and thinking skills appears to have benefits through third grade, particularly in executive functioning—the mental skills that include planning, paying attention, organizing, and remembering details.

Healthy lifestyle reduces heart attack, stroke risk after gestational diabetes, NIH study shows

Pregnant woman with health care provider

Women who have had gestational diabetes may be able to reduce or even eliminate their risk for cardiovascular disease by following a healthy lifestyle in the years after giving birth, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health.

NICHD research links air pollution and extreme temperature to stillbirth risk

NICHD’s Pauline Mendola examines whether air pollution and extreme temperature increase the risk of stillbirth.

Podcast: Newborn screening saves lives

Photograph of Jana and her children, Stephen and Caroline

Virginia mother Jana Monaco describes how newborn screening changed her family's life. Her experience and advocacy helped change the course of knowledge for future generations.

Probiotics may prevent life-threatening infection in newborns

Daily doses of beneficial bacteria, or probiotics, reduced the rate of sepsis—a life-threatening infection of the bloodstream—among newborns in India by 40 percent, according to researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Malaria drug protects fetal mice from Zika virus, NIH-funded study finds

Hydroxychloroquine, a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat malaria and certain autoimmune diseases in pregnant women, appears to reduce transmission of Zika virus from pregnant mice to their fetuses, according to a study funded in part by the National Institutes of Health.

NICHD’s Safe to Sleep Campaign with Dr. Marian Willinger

A conversation with Dr. Marian Willinger before her retirement. Dr. Willinger helped launch NICHD’s Safe to Sleep campaign and led research efforts on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, stillbirth and infant health.

Socioeconomic disadvantage linked to immune activity during pregnancy

Infants born to mothers in poverty had a greater chance of developing neurological problems within the first year of life, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Harvard University.

NIH-led workshop addresses opioid misuse during pregnancy

Experts convened for an NICHD workshop identified research gaps and opportunities to improve outcomes for women affected by opioid use disorder, their newborn infants and their families.

NIH-led task force to address research needs of pregnant women and nursing mothers

A new task force created by the 21st Century Cures Act and led by NICHD will advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services on research needed to optimize therapies for pregnant women and nursing mothers. The first meeting will be held on August 21-22, 2017 at NIH.

Common tests for preterm birth not useful for routine screening of first-time pregnancies

Two methods thought to hold promise in predicting preterm delivery in first-time pregnancies identified only a small proportion of cases and do not appear suitable for widespread screening, according to a large study by a National Institutes of Health research network.

No benefit in treating mildly low thyroid function in pregnancy, NIH Network study finds

There appears to be no benefit to treating mildly low thyroid function during pregnancy, according to a study by a National Institutes of Health research network.

Survival rate may be improving for extremely preterm infants

Very early preterm infants are more likely to survive than in previous years, and the survivors are less likely to have neurological problems, according to an analysis of records from a National Institutes of Health research network.

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News & Updates