The University of Rochester has been designated an Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC) by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). The award recognizes the Medical Center’s national leadership in research for conditions such Autism, Batten disease, and Rett syndrome.
“The new center will span research from molecule to mind and elevate and accelerate the pioneering work that our scientists and clinicians are undertaking in this field,” said Foxe. “This recognition will enable us to not only strengthen and expand the scope of research, but also attract new scientists, clinical researchers, and students, and accelerate the process of moving discoveries from the laboratory bench to the clinic in the form of new therapeutics and interventions.”
“Improving the health and wellbeing of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities has long been one of the core missions of URMC and is woven into our history dating back to the founding principles of the School of Medicine and Dentistry and the creation of the biopsychosocial model, which revolutionized the approach to complex physical and mental conditions,” said Mink. “This designation will build upon this foundation and help improve the lives of patients with these conditions.”
The IDDRC’s research will be closely integrated with the Medical Center’s Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Child and Adult Neurology, Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health and Wellness, and the Complex Care Center clinical programs, which provide care for children and adolescents with a variety of neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral conditions. The IDDRC will also occupy space in the recently opened Golisano Behavioral Health and Wellness Building to conduct clinical research, allowing patients and families in the region access to the most recent scientific advances.
