January 12, 2021
A return to normal relies on communicating transparent, scientifically accurate information about vaccines and vaccine technology – including what we know and what we still need to learn. Building confidence in the process and the science is key for vaccines to be a contributor to addressing health inequities that exist generally and specifically with respect to COVID-19.
January 9, 2021
The prevalence of marijuana use continues to rise, with self-reported use nearly doubling among women of reproductive age over the last 20 years, likely due to increasing perceptions of overall safety and acceptability. A recent study, supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NICHD and other funders, investigated if there were differences in conception rates among women who use marijuana compared to those who do not. Currently, there is a paucity of research on the safety of marijuana use during critical windows of pregnancy establishment. Prior research based on self-reported marijuana use suggests that use is not associated with changes in conception rates; however, self-reported use may underestimate actual use due to stigma surrounding drug use.
January 8, 2021
Every April, the NIEHS Office of Human Research Compliance, led by Dr. Joan Packenham, sponsors an event called the Women’s Wellness Conference. In 2020, as the pandemic took hold, they retooled their offering and last fall launched a series of free webinars, which have drawn hundreds of viewers.
January 8, 2021
We all know that children are our future. But what will the future hold for the many children exposed to opioids in utero? Can early diagnosis and intervention improve their life course? Currently, there is no national standard of care for such children. We also lack clarity on the long-term effects of either opioid exposure or various treatments for opioid-exposed children on their physical and cognitive development. To narrow that knowledge gap, NIH seeks to enhance outcomes for infants and children exposed to opioids as a key goal of the Helping to End Addiction Long-termSM, or HEAL, Initiative. Toward this goal, a group of 29 Phase I grants were awarded in September 2019 to plan for the large-cohort HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study of neurological and physical development. The full Phase II cohort study will also include infants and children not prenatally exposed to substances or adverse environments, in order to identify early biomarkers of altered developmental trajectories that could prompt intervention for those exposed to opioids or other harmful substances during gestation.
Understanding the Neurodevelopment of Opioid-Exposed Infants in Early Childhood
January 8, 2021
On December 14–16, 2020, ORWH hosted a series of three virtual meetings in celebration of the office's 30-year role in supporting women’s health research and sex and gender studies within and beyond the NIH scientific community. The first meeting convened members of the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) program, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. BIRCWH, a mentored career-development program, connects junior faculty—known as BIRCWH Scholars—to senior faculty with shared interests in women’s health and sex differences research.
January 6, 2021
In extremely rare instances, newborns can contract cancer from their pregnant moms during delivery, a new case report suggests.
Women May Transmit Cancer to Infants in Childbirth, Reports Suggest
January 6, 2021
A novel form of a drug used to treat osteoporosis that comes with the potential for fewer side effects may provide a new option for patients. Purdue University innovators developed a stabilized form of human calcitonin, which is a peptide drug already used for people with osteoporosis. Researchers at Purdue created a prodrug form of the peptide hormone to increase its effectiveness as an osteoporosis treatment.
New drug form may help treat osteoporosis, calcium-related disorders
January 6, 2021
The intent of the Breakthrough Award is to support promising research that has high potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer. The critical components of this award mechanism are: Impact: Research supported by the Breakthrough Award will have the potential for a major impact and accelerate progress toward ending breast cancer. The impact may be near-term or long-term, but must move beyond a minor advancement and have the potential to lead to a new approach that is fundamentally better than interventions already approved or in clinical development. Applications are expected to identify the breast cancer patients or at-risk individuals who would ultimately benefit from the proposed research. Research Scope: The Breakthrough Award is structured with four different funding levels. The levels are designed to support major (but not all) stages of research that will lead to clinical application. Each level has a defined research scope. It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator (PI) to select the level that aligns with the scope of the proposed research. The funding level should be selected based on the research scope defined in the Program Announcement, and not on the amount of the budget.
Funding Opportunity: DoD Breast Cancer, Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2
January 6, 2021
The intent of the Breakthrough Award is to support promising research that has high potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer. The critical components of this award mechanism are: Impact: Research supported by the Breakthrough Award will have the potential for a major impact and accelerate progress toward ending breast cancer. The impact may be near-term or long-term, but must move beyond a minor advancement and have the potential to lead to a new approach that is fundamentally better than interventions already approved or in clinical development. Applications are expected to identify the breast cancer patients or at-risk individuals who would ultimately benefit from the proposed research. Research Scope: The Breakthrough Award is structured with four different funding levels. The levels are designed to support major (but not all) stages of research that will lead to clinical application. Each level has a defined research scope. It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator (PI) to select the level that aligns with the scope of the proposed research. The funding level should be selected based on the research scope defined in the Program Announcement, and not on the amount of the budget.
Funding Opportunity: DoD Breast Cancer, Breakthrough Award Level 3
January 6, 2021
The Innovator Award supports visionary individuals who have demonstrated exceptional creativity, innovative work, and paradigm-shifting leadership in any field including, but not limited to, breast cancer. The Innovator Award will provide these individuals with the funding and freedom to pursue their most novel, visionary, high-risk ideas that could accelerate progress to ending breast cancer. Because the intent of the Innovator Award mechanism is to recognize these remarkably creative and innovative visionary individuals, rather than projects, the central feature of the award is the innovative contribution that the Principal Investigator (PI) can make toward ending breast cancer. The PI should have a record of challenging the status quo, shifting paradigms by changing a field of research or approach to patient care, exhibiting high levels of creativity, and demonstrating promise for continued innovation in future work. These rare individuals will be able to articulate a vision for ending breast cancer that challenges current dogma and demonstrates an ability to look beyond tradition and convention. The PI is also expected to be established in their field and have demonstrated success at forming and leading effective partnerships and collaborations. To further the development of innovative individuals and spark the generation of novel ideas, applications are required to incorporate the mentoring of promising junior investigators.
