NICHD

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) was established by President John F. Kennedy, with the support of congress, in 1962 to study the “complex process of human development from conception to old age.”

In pursuit of its broad mission, the NICHD conducts and supports laboratory research, clinical trials, and epidemiological studies that explore health processes; examines the impact of disabilities, diseases, and variations on the lives of individuals; and sponsors training programs for scientists, health care providers, and researchers to ensure that NICHD research can continue.

NICHD was initially founded to realize a vision: to support the world’s best minds in investigating human development throughout the entire life process, focusing on understanding developmental disabilities, including intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), and illuminating important events that occur during pregnancy.