Mention the word NICU, and so many parents are instantly transported back to days spent there with their tiny babies. The loud monitors. The blinking machines. Crying babies. Doctors and nurses rushing around. But Dr. Bob White ‘71 has a different experience.For decades, Dr. White, a practicing neonatologist and Notre Dame professor, has spearheaded a team of physicians, nurses, researchers, architects and regulators who created recommendations for NICU design and care. Based on clinical research, the recommendations have led to improvements in NICUs around the globe, including the one where Dr. White works in South Bend.These guidelines are the gold standard and lead to healthier results for both babies and families.

With 10,000 known rare diseases, the chances of being diagnosed with one in the United States are 1 in 10. That’s 30 million Americans affected. Fewer than 5% of rare diseases have an effective treatment leaving millions without options.At Notre Dame, studying rare diseases is a priority that places patients and families at the center of our work.The Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare Diseases was one of the first basic science rare disease research centers in the country, and Notre Dame Science recently launched the nation’s first minor in rare disease patient advocacy.https://go.nd.edu/FightingForRareDiseases

While 54 million people in the United States experience mental illness, fewer than half of adults and children with a mental health disorder ever receive treatment, often due to a lack of mental health resources in communities.The University of Notre Dame is working to change that. In September 2024, Notre Dame broke ground on the Wilma and Peter Veldman Family Psychology Clinic, which is expected to open in 2026.Once at full capacity, the clinic will serve more than 1,500 residents in the local area through mental health assessment, intervention, and prevention services. It will also foster partnerships with community organizations to expand access to mental health care throughout the South Bend, Indiana region.Learn more: https://go.nd.edu/FightingForMentalHealth

There are 18 million adults in the United States who do not possess a high school diploma. In many states, after age 21 they are no longer eligible to receive one, and must get a GED, which typically offer less promising outcomes.Goodwill saw this gap and launched the Excel Center, an adult, tuition-free adult charter school that also offers services like childcare and life coaching, to ensure the success of their students.They saw what they believed was great success at their flagship, Indianapolis location, but they lacked data to help it grow, so they invited Notre Dame’s Wilson-Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) to assess their program.Its study showed graduates from the Excel Center saw a 40 percent increase in earnings in five years. Graduates were also more likely to move into jobs that became careers, and to support their families long-term.Based on this data, states like Arizona have changed their legislation and pledged money to build Excel Centers.Learn more: https://go.nd.edu/ImproveEducationPolicies

Opioids, specifically fentanyl, are currently the leading cause of death for adults ages 18 to 45. They are highly accessible, available even on mainstream social media, and often lethal. Fentanyl is also often used as a filler in other drugs, so many people don’t even know they’re taking it.Illicit drug markets are constantly evolving with technology, making them difficult to track and stop. Fanny Ye, associate professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, is developing a robust, AI-powered framework to dismantle the systems that allow for opioids to be sold on both social media and the dark web.Learn more: https://go.nd.edu/b35248