NICHD was initially founded in 1962 to realize a vision: 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 , and illuminating important events that occur during pregnancy.
Since then, NICHD has made an array of scientific advances that have helped enhance lives throughout all stages of development, from preconception through adulthood . Research supported and conducted by NICHD has helped to explain the unique health needs of many and has brought about novel and effective ways to prevent and treat disease and disability.