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NICHDEVELOPMENTS – MAY 2023

by popcenters | May 15, 2023 | NICHD | 0 comments

News

An adult holds the foot of a newborn, which has a hospital tag around its ankle.

“Eat, Sleep, Console” reduces hospital stay and need for medication among opioid-exposed infants

The “Eat, Sleep, Console” (ESC) care approach may be more effective than using the Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring Tool (FNAST) to assess and manage opioid-exposed newborns, according to a national, randomized controlled clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health. Newborns cared for with ESC were medically ready for discharge approximately 6.7 days earlier and 63% less likely to receive medication as part of their treatment, compared to newborns cared for with FNAST.

A health care worker in surgical garb holds the hand of a pregnant person lying on a gurney. The upper torso of a health care worker in surgical garb is visible in the background.

Tranexamic acid does not appear to prevent maternal hemorrhage after cesarean delivery

Tranexamic acid appears no more effective than placebo in reducing the need for blood transfusion or preventing maternal death in patients with increased risk for excessive bleeding because of cesarean delivery, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Tranexamic acid slows the natural breakdown of blood clots and was considered promising for reducing the risk of excessive bleeding after giving birth—known as postpartum hemorrhage—after cesarean delivery.

Child lying in hospital bed, with a health care worker writing on clipboard. All are masked.

Biomarker pattern found in kids with COVID-19—linked inflammatory syndrome

Children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C)—a rare condition linked with the virus that causes COVID-19—have biochemical indicators of cell injury and cell death that are distinct from other children with COVID-19, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

A three-dimensional rendering of a see-through human torso shows the adrenal glands in orange.

International group identifies best management of rare neuroendocrine cancers—phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are rare types of tumors that are typically found in the abdomen but can occur in any location of the body. An international group of health care professionals developed a consensus statement on how to best manage these tumors when they are caused by variants in the gene succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit D.

A masked pregnant person looks at a medical professional.

Children born to women with COVID-19 could be at risk for heart disease, diabetes in later life

Infants born in 2020 through mid-2021 to women with COVID-19 weighed less at birth, but grew at a faster rate than a comparable group born to women who did not have COVID-19, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Previous studies have found that preterm infants and other infants who are small or underweight at birth and who undergo catch-up growth in the first year are at higher risk for later life obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, compared to infants born at normal weight.

An orange double helix, representing DNA, contained within a blue sphere, representing a viral vector, is shown outside a cell, represented as an oval with a blue outline delineating the cell membrane. Additional copies of the vector/DNA are shown entering the cell membrane and traveling through the cell. An arrow represents delivery of the DNA to the cell nucleus.

Gene therapy for rare neurodegenerative disease shows early promise

A research team including National Institutes of Health scientists has developed a potential gene therapy for hereditary spastic paraplegia 50 (SPG50), a rare childhood-onset neurodegenerative disorder that leads to developmental delays, cognitive impairment, and eventual paralysis. The condition is caused by mutations in a single gene known as AP4M1.

Sperm cells.

Gene discovery could lead to development of new male contraceptive

Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have discovered a gene that could serve as a target for a new non-hormonal contraceptive. The gene, arrestin domain containing 5, is present in several mammalian species and controls the last step in sperm maturation. Deactivating the gene in animals results in lower sperm count and sperm with impaired movement that are incapable of fertilizing an egg—without any apparent ill effects elsewhere in the body.

Medical professionals in surgical garb surround the draped torso of a pregnant person, while another medical professional holds surgical instruments.

NICHD announces awards for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has announced new funding for participating centers in its Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. The purpose of the network is to improve obstetric care, pregnancy health, and outcomes for pregnant and lactating people and their babies.

Three women stand together facing forward, smiling.

Dr. Veronica Gomez-Lobo leads NICHD research program in pediatric gynecology

The latest profile in NICHD’s Women in Science series features Dr. Gomez-Lobo, who leads a research program exploring fertility preservation in special populations, rare gynecologic conditions, and other issues in pediatric gynecology.

A mother sitting on a couch, breastfeeding a baby she holds in her lap.

Urea in breast milk feeds beneficial bacteria in infant gut, NIH-funded study suggests

Urea, present in breast milk but not digested by the infant, appears to foster the growth of beneficial bacteria in the infant gut, suggests a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Urea is a nitrogen-containing waste product of protein digestion. In return for the breast milk-supplied urea, the bacteria provide the infant with essential nutrients. The results have important implications for the development of infant formula.

Side view graphic of a pregnant person. The fetus and placenta can be seen.

Human Placenta Project seeks safe, noninvasive assessment of the placenta

This feature chronicles ongoing research in NICHD’s Human Placenta Project, including efforts to detect a condition in which the placenta invades the uterine wall and attempts to image the placenta using ultrasound, photo acoustics, and magnetic resonance imaging.

Multicolored paint splatter.

NIH announces winners of youth art challenge

The National Institutes of Health is pleased to announce the winners of the STRIVE for Change: Drawing on Our Strengths Art Challenge, a prize competition for original artwork highlighting the strengths of communities experiencing health disparities. Two entries were selected to receive cash prizes.

Selected Funding Opportunities

Requests for Applications, Program Announcements

  • Translational Research in Maternal and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-23-130)
  • Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Administrative Supplements to Leverage Network Infrastructure to Advance Multisite Research for Women, Children, Pregnant and Lactating Individuals and/or Persons with Disabilities (NOT-HD-23-005)
  • Research on Biopsychosocial Factors of Social Connectedness and Isolation on Health, Wellbeing, Illness, and Recovery (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) (PAR-21-350)
  • Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Research to Improve Pre-Pregnancy Care and Enhance Healthy Birth Intervals (NOT-HD-23-003)
  • Notice of Intent to Publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the PATC³H-IN Implementation Science Coordinating Center (UM2 Clinical Trial Optional) (NOT-HD-23-009)
  • Notice of Proposed Rule Making: HHS Office of the National Coordinator Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability (HTI-1) Proposed Rule

For links to NICHD funding opportunities, check Active Funding Opportunity Announcements for All NICHD.

NICHD’s Data Sharing Resources

NICHD supports many resources and tools for researchers.

Featured This Month:

  • Maternal & Child Health Information for Research Implementation Guide (IG) External Web Site Policy

    This Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource (FHIR) guide was recently approved and published by Health Level Seven International®, a not-for-profit, accredited standards-developing organization focused on electronic health information. The framework enables maternal health researchers to aggregate, calculate, and analyze clinical research information, including longitudinal medical history and basic socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, for exploring the root causes of maternal and child morbidity and mortality. Researchers can use the IG to better identify the full range of risk factors, preexisting conditions, and causes of severe maternal morbidity and pregnancy-related mortality that affect outcomes for both mother and infant. The IG will eventually allow mapping of maternal data across health records and linking of maternal and child data harmonized across a broad set of use cases. NICHD’s Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch led the development of the IG as part of the Longitudinal Maternal & Child Health Information for Research Project, an ongoing NICHD-led effort to strengthen the maternal and infant health data evidence base. These data are critical to examining the effects of medical conditions and/or interventions on pregnant, postpartum, and lactating people and their infants.

For information on other resources, visit NICHD’s Datasets & Research Resources.

NIH’s Office of Extramural Research News

  • FOA or NOFO – It’s All About Funding
  • How Many Researchers: The FY 2022 Cumulative Investigator Rate
  • Navigating the NIH
  • Update on Improving Fellowship Review: A Request for Information

Subscribe to NIH Office of Extramural Research Updates.

NICHD-Related Meetings, Conferences, and Events

  • National Advisory Child Health & Human Development (NACHHD) Council (June 6–7)
  • INCLUDE Project Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Webinar Series (June 26)

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