NIH launches $37M consortium to tackle stillbirth crisis; young girls less responsive to body’s fullness cues; this implant restores blood pressure stability after spinal cord injury – Morning Medical Update

NIH launches $37M consortium to tackle stillbirth crisis

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched a $37 million Stillbirth Research Consortium to reduce preventable stillbirths, which affect about 1 in 160 U.S. deliveries and claim nearly 24,000 pregnancies annually.

Despite excluding known causes like genetic disorders or obstetric complications, more than 60% of cases remain unexplained. The consortium, which includes centers at UC San Diego, Columbia University, the University of Utah and Oregon Health & Science University, along with a data hub at RTI International, will focus on placental dysfunction, fetal movement, nutrition, stress and new diagnostic tools such as AI-driven risk detection. NIH officials emphasized that about 40% of intrapartum stillbirths are potentially preventable, with higher rates among Black, American Indian and Alaska Native families.

Study finds young girls less responsive to fullness cues than boys

Young girls may be less attuned to their bodies’ fullness signals than boys, according to a Penn State study of 4- to 6-year-olds published in Appetite. Researchers found that boys ate less at mealtime if they had already consumed a fruit snack, while girls ate the same amount regardless, suggesting girls may rely more on social or environmental cues than internal hunger. The form of the fruit — whole, pureed or juice — made no difference in intake. The findings highlight how early differences in eating behaviors emerge, with potential implications for obesity and disordered eating later in life.

Implant restores blood pressure stability after spinal cord injury

An international team of researchers has developed a neurostimulation implant that restores blood pressure control in people with spinal cord injuries, according to studies published in Nature and Nature Medicine. The device, which uses electrode arrays and a pulse generator similar to a pacemaker, stabilized blood pressure in 14 trial participants across Canada, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Patients reported more energy, clearer thinking and fewer dangerous spikes or drops in pressure.