NICHD conducts and supports a variety of clinical research related to neuroscience. Select a link below to learn more about these projects.
- Testing and Calibration of Non-Invasive Optical Imaging Technology for Functional Brain Imaging
This study will examine the capabilities of non-invasive functional near infrared imaging techniques on healthy volunteers and compare the results with the existing outcomes of functional magnetic resonance imaging. - Preemie Hypothermia for Neonatal Encephalopathy
This study will test the effects of using extreme cooling as a treatment for premature infants with a nervous system condition called neonatal encephalopathy. - Genetic Causes of Growth Disorders
Some growth disorders—which cause a child to grow too much or not enough—have obvious causes, but others do not. This study will look for genetic causes of growth disorders, using a new technology called exome sequencing that will allow the researchers to look at many genes at once. - Mirror Neuron Network Dysfunction as an Early Biomarker of Neurodevelopmental Disorder
Studies have shown that our brain activity changes while we watch someone else do something. This may be part of early social and communication skills. Researchers in this study will look at typically developing infants and infants who are at increased risk for social communication disorders to understand the stages of normal development of motor observation and imitation in people and how they relate to social development in infants and toddlers. - Darbepoetin Trial to Improve Red Cell Mass and Neuroprotection in Preterm Infants (Darbe)
Being born before full term can affect a baby’s brain development. This study will investigate whether a drug called darbepoetin can help protect the brain as a preterm baby grows. - Teaching Academic Success Skills to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders in a Clinical Setting
This study aims to develop and evaluate an academic intervention to improve executive function in children with autism spectrum disorder. - Fetal Birth Defects: Toward a Precision-Based Approach
This multicenter study investigates the genetic etiologies of non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) and other birth defects. - Brain Stimulation-Aided Stroke Rehabilitation: Neural Mechanisms of Recovery
Despite extensive rehabilitation, approximately 60% to 80% of patients with stroke experience residual dysfunction of the upper limb. Despite promising evidence, the clinical utility of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is limited due to its labor-intensive protocols and inadequate gains. This study is to develop a novel rehabilitative method for chronic stroke that minimizes residual deficits by maximally utilizing the potential for cortical plasticity.
Select a link below to view ClinicalTrials.gov search results for studies on neuroscience.