Research

Projects within the IDDRC generally address one or more of the research themes shown here and specific topics defined by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) as relevant to intellectual and developmental disabilities in its RFA HD-09-012.

Theme 1
Fundamental biological processes of typical and atypical nervous system development 		Theme 2
Environmental influences on neurobehavioral development and functioning 		Theme 3
Neurodevelopmental disorders and co-morbid conditions
 Research Theme 1crop dusting plane young girl sitting at table


IDDRCs are intended to bring together researchers from many professional disciplines to work together or in parallel to prevent and/or ameliorate intellectual and developmental disabilities. The IDDRC at the University of Massachusetts Medical School does this via a broad program of basic, translational and applied research addressing 22 of the 31 NICHD topics of relevance. Recent publications of IDDRC investigators exemplify use of state-of-the-art research methodologies within biomedical, biobehavioral and behavioral fields of study.