![Illustrated silhouettes of three pregnant people. Connecting the Community for Maternal Health Challenge. Logo of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.](/https/www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2024-09/090524-community-MH-challenge-featured.jpg)
![A series of three circular images related to infant health and development, a mother and toddler at a check-up with a medical professional (left), a father playing with his son at home (center), and couple playing with their infant (right).](/https/www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2024-08/NICHD-Q3-2024-banner_SeptDesktop.jpg)
![A series of three circular images related to infant health and development, a mother and toddler at a check-up with a medical professional (left), a father playing with his son at home (center), and couple playing with their infant (right).](/https/www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2024-08/NICHD-Q3-2024-banner_SeptMobile.jpg)
Nurturing Infant Health and Development
Learn how NICHD research on infant care and development helps babies and families thrive.Featured
![A smiling woman holds a baby as a smiling man looks on in the background.](/https/www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/inline-images/sp_2020_square.jpg)
NICHD has begun the process to update its strategic plan for 2025 through 2029. Learn more.
![Top view of three zebrafish with fluorescently “tagged” skeletons and scales. The fish on the left is tagged purple, the fish in the middle is tagged blue, and the fish on the right is tagged green.](/https/www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/zebrafish_tour.png)
Explore the Bethesda campus, including the NICHD Zebrafish Research Section (Building 6), and learn more about how NIH works to turn discovery into health.
![Girl wearing protective face mask.](/https/www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/covid-research2.jpg)
NICHD provides highlights of some of our COVID-19 research activities to understand the effects of the virus among the populations central to our mission.
Director's Corner
![Dr. Bianchi](/https/www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2018-01/bianchi-staff_0.png)
Director
Dr. Bianchi’s Latest Blog
August 5, 2024
Promoting Safe and Healthy Summers
Summer’s long days and warm weather allow for more time spent outdoors, benefiting physical and mental health. But heat also can have harmful health effects, and outdoor recreation carries the risk of injuries. NICHD research seeks to understand the impacts of climate change, prevent drownings, and help ensure safe participation in summer sports.
![Abstract multi-colored lines on black background](/https/www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2018-01/osd.png)
Grant Information
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