NICHD - CRMC - Endocrinology, Nutrition and Growth Branch (ENG)

About NICHD - Organization - CRMC
Endocrinology, Nutrition and Growth Branch (ENG)

Pediatric Pharmacology Research Unit Network

Investigations supported by this Branch are directed toward a better understanding of the roles played by nutritional and hormonal factors in human growth and development.

Maternal-Fetal, Child and Adolescent Nutrition

The Branch studies the complex nutritional relationships between the mother and her fetus, the placental transfer of nutrients, and the role of nutrition in infant development. Research interests focus on the nutrient requirements of normal, premature and growth-retarded infants, and on contributions of human milk and its components to optimal infant nutrition. Studies are encouraged to assess how maternal factors affect milk composition and lactation performance. Studies are supported on effects of nutrition on the adolescent growth spurt, the onset of puberty, and etiology, consequences, and prevention of obesity and hyperlipidemia in childhood and adolescence. Special emphasis is placed on studying molecular and biochemical aspects of nutrition, particularly in relationship to growth of cells, tissues, organ systems, and individuals.

Growth and Growth Factors

Basic research on growth-promoting polypeptides and hypothalamic releasing factors receives special emphasis, particularly as these factors interact to influence normal growth and physiological development. Basic and clinical studies of the etiology and therapy of growth retardation are also supported. Major importance is placed on ascertaining the molecular basis of growth retardation in regard to the control of transcription and translation of growth factors, their binding proteins, and their receptors. Studies of transmembrane signalling in effector cells are also encouraged.

Nutritional Status Assessment

This program emphasizes development of new non-invasive methods for assessing nutritional status, particularly during infancy, adolescence, pregnancy, and lactation.

Cultural and Behavioral Aspects of Nutrition

Research in this area focuses on cultural and behavioral determinants of nutritional individuality and studies of eating habits, food preferences, food avoidance, and eating disorders such as anorexia and anorexia-bulimia. Studies also include behavioral and neuroendocrine factors in taste, olfaction, satiety, and the control of food intake. Special attention is focused also on the behavioral and cognitive consequences of nutritional deficiencies and imbalances.

Antecedents of Adult Disease

Research priorities in this area are obesity, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance in childhood and adolescence. Special emphasis is placed on developing methods for detecting potential diabetics in childhood and for developing successful techniques of immunomodulation to prevent or mitigate the body's immune attack on the pancreatic beta cell. Similarly, studies of obesity and hyperlipidemia focus on the etiology, consequences, and prevention of childhood obesity and hyperlipidemia. Studies of calcium intake during adolescence and the prevention of osteoporosis later in life are encouraged.

Pediatric Endocrinology

In addition to studies of growth and growth factors, this Branch supports research on other aspects of pediatric endocrinology, including normal and abnormal development of the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal, gonadal, and thyroid axes.

Developmental Gastroenterology

As a complement to research on nutrition the Branch also supports basic and clinical studies on the normal development of the infant gastrointestinal system and digestive function. Particular emphasis is devoted to studies on the interaction of the developing gastrointestinal tract with ingested nutrients in regard to digestion and absorption. Emphasis is placed also on studying the effects of hormones and growth factors in human milk on development and function of the infant gut. Studies of the immunological function of the infant gut in health and disease are also encouraged as well as studies of physiologic and pathologic processes which may be involved in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis. Studies of the effect of HIV on the immune function of the gut are encouraged as well.

Child Health Research Centers

The Branch also administers grants for Child Health Research Centers, supported at academic clinical medical institutions which have as their primary mission the care of children and which serve as major teaching resources for associated academic pediatric departments. These Centers provide resources to speed the transfer of knowledge gained through studies in basic science to clinical applications which would benefit the health of children. This is accomplished by strengthening the institutions' capacity to develop the careers of pediatric investigators who have a research background in basic science, and to stimulate and facilitate application of their skills to research on pressing pediatric problems. Each Center is focused on a specific scientific area or theme relevant to the pediatric research mission of the NICHD.

Pediatric Pharmacology Research Units (PPRU) Network

Three quarters of all medications marketed in the United States are not approved as safe and effective for use in children. In response to this problem, the Branch established the PPRU Network. The Network's goal is to increase the number and variety of drugs that are FDA-approved for use in children. The Network will also serve as a resource for studies of drug action and disposition in infants, children, and adolescents. The seven participating units conduct pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic research through independent investigator-initiated studies and collaborative clinical trials with private industry. The PPRU Network will also provide supervised research experience to pediatricians and others interested in pediatric clinical pharmacology.

CONTACT ADDRESS:
Name: Dr. Gilman Grave
Phone: (301) 496-5593
Title: Chief, Endocrinology Nutrition & Growth Branch
Office: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Address: Executive Building, Room 4B11A
6100 Executive Blvd., MSC 7510
Bethesda, MD 20892-7510
Email: graveg@exchange.nih.gov