The Baylor College of Medicine Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (BCM MRDDRC) is one of 14 such centers funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; it is also member of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities.

The BCM MRDDRC is committed to advancing research in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD) in order to contribute to the resolution of many of the problems encountered by individuals with MRDD and their families. The goals of the BCM MRDDRC are to identify as many causes as possible of mental retardation and disability, to prevent these disorders, and to provide interventional schemes that can improve the quality of life of affected individuals and their disability whenever possible.

BCM MRDDRC investigators are able to utilize the Core facilities to aid in their individual research (see Cores and Investigators).
The New Program Development Project helps investigators new to the MRDD to obtain funding for novel research studies that will take the best possible advantage of the various available cores (see Funding).