Need information on reading disability? Want to know how much
calcium is in a serving of broccoli? Trying to find out how to
apply for a research grant to study spinal cord development in
zebrafish? Check out http://www.nichd.nih.gov.
The component of the National Institutes of Health that conducts
and supports research on human development, medical rehabilitation,
and the health of children, adults, families, and communities,
launched its redesigned Web site. The new National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development site provides easy access to
information for patients, the general public, scientists, and the
news media.
"The new site provides fast and easy access to a wide array of
information, from child health, to developmental disorders, to
women's health, to basic and clinical research," said Duane Alexander,
M.D., director of the NICHD. "This site is useful not only to people
who need health information; it's also a tool for scientists who
need research information"
Since its creation by Congress in 1962, the NICHD?s diverse mission
has encompassed research across the life span. The Institute?s
research portfolio includes development before and after birth;
maternal, child, and family health; reproductive biology and population
issues; and medical rehabilitation. NICHD research has led to advances
enabling millions of people in this country and around the world
to lead healthier lives.
The NICHD's new site has undergone major changes in content, navigational
features, and design. One premier feature is an A to Z topics list,
which offers information on health conditions, disorders, programs,
and topics. Reflective of the NICHD's mission, these topics span
the gamut, from autism, to endometriosis, to gestational diabetes,
to reading disabilities. The site also links to corresponding NICHD
publications and materials.
Moreover, users will find links to clinical trials (research studies
involving volunteers) and to the Institute?s public education campaigns: Back
to Sleep (reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome), Milk
Matters (the importance of getting enough calcium during the
preteen and teen years), and Media Smart Youth (teaches
young people to evaluate media messages about nutrition and physical
activity).
Scientific researchers coming to the NICHD Web site will find
extensive information on the Institute's research components and
supported projects. Through a directory that is searchable by research
specialty, researchers and potential grantees will now be able
to find program staff and scientists who share their research interests.
Scientists seeking financial support for their own research projects
or training will be able to access information tailored for their
level of familiarity with the federal funding process or to the
current stage of their research career.
The redesigned Web site also provides members of the news media
with convenient access to current and past news releases, science
advances, as well as media resources, such as video and audio clips.
In addition, the site also offers help to reporters seeking to
arrange interviews with NICHD scientists and officials.
"As an Institute with a broad mission, we attract diverse audiences
to our Web site," Dr. Alexander said. "This new design helps each
of our audiences quickly access information that meets their needs."
The redesigned site was unveiled at the Institute's September
11, 2006, meeting of the NICHD's National Advisory Child Health
and Human Development Council.
The NICHD sponsors research on development, before and after
birth; maternal, child, and family health; reproductive biology
and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information,
visit the Institute's Web site at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's
Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and
Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting
and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research,
and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both
common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and
its programs, visit www.nih.gov