National Institutes of Health
Encyclopedia
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
-related research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
. It consists of 27 separate institutes, centers, and offices which includes the Office of the Director. Francis S. Collins is the current Director.
As of 2003, the NIH was responsible for 28%—about US$26.4 billion—of the total biomedical research funding spent annually in the U.S., with most of the rest coming from industry.
The NIH's research is divided into two parts: the Extramural Research Program is responsible for the funding of biomedical research
Biomedical research
Biomedical research , in general simply known as medical research, is the basic research, applied research, or translational research conducted to aid and support the body of knowledge in the field of medicine...
outside the NIH, while the Intramural Research Program (IRP) is the internal research program of the NIH, known for its synergistic approach to biomedical science . With 1,200 principal investigator
Principal investigator
A principal investigator is the lead scientist or engineer for a particular well-defined science project, such as a laboratory study or clinical trial....
s and over 4,000 postdoctoral fellows in basic, translational, and clinical research
Clinical research
Clinical research is a branch of medical science that determines the safety and effectiveness of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use...
, the IRP is the largest biomedical research institution on earth . The unique funding environment of the IRP facilitates opportunities to conduct both long-term and high-impact science that would otherwise be difficult to undertake. With rigorous external reviews ensuring that only the most innovative research secures funding , the IRP is responsible for many scientific accomplishments, including the discovery of fluoride
Fluoride
Fluoride is the anion F−, the reduced form of fluorine when as an ion and when bonded to another element. Both organofluorine compounds and inorganic fluorine containing compounds are called fluorides. Fluoride, like other halides, is a monovalent ion . Its compounds often have properties that are...
to prevent tooth decay, the use of lithium
Lithium
Lithium is a soft, silver-white metal that belongs to the alkali metal group of chemical elements. It is represented by the symbol Li, and it has the atomic number 3. Under standard conditions it is the lightest metal and the least dense solid element. Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly...
to manage bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
, and the creation of vaccines against hepatitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
, Haemophilus influenzae (HIB
Hib
Hib may refer to:* Hib Milks, a Canadian Professional Hockey forward* Haemophilus influenzae serotype b, and the corresponding Hib vaccine* Chisholm-Hibbing Airport in Hibbing, Minnesota...
), and human papillomavirus
Human papillomavirus
Human papillomavirus is a member of the papillomavirus family of viruses that is capable of infecting humans. Like all papillomaviruses, HPVs establish productive infections only in keratinocytes of the skin or mucous membranes...
. Intramural research is primarily conducted at the main campus
National Institutes of Health campus
The National Institutes of Health campus is located in Bethesda, Maryland. Most of the institutes house their Divisions of Intramural Research on this campus spread out among various buildings.-Location:...
in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
, and the surrounding communities. The National Institute on Aging and the National Institute on Drug Abuse are located in Baltimore, Maryland, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is in Research Triangle
The Triangle (North Carolina)
The Research Triangle, also known as Raleigh-Durham and commonly referred to as simply "The Triangle", is a region in the Piedmont of North Carolina in the United States, anchored by North Carolina State University, Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and cities of...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) maintains Rocky Mountain Labs in Hamilton, Montana
Hamilton, Montana
Hamilton is a city in and the county seat of Ravalli County, Montana, United States. The population was 3,705 at the 2000 census. Significant outlying population growth is shown in the area; the ZIP Code Tabulation Area for Hamilton's ZIP Code, 59840, had a population of 12,327at the 2000 census.-...
, with an emphasis on virology.
The goal of NIH research is to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
and disability
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
, from the rarest genetic disorder
Genetic disorder
A genetic disorder is an illness caused by abnormalities in genes or chromosomes, especially a condition that is present from before birth. Most genetic disorders are quite rare and affect one person in every several thousands or millions....
to the common cold
Common cold
The common cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system, caused primarily by rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. Common symptoms include a cough, sore throat, runny nose, and fever...
. The NIH mission is to uncover new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone. NIH works toward that mission by conducting research in its own laboratories, supporting the research of non-federal scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
s (in universities
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
, medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
s, hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s, and research institutions throughout the country and abroad), helping in the training of research investigators, and fostering communication of medical and health sciences information.
Institutes
| Name | Acronym | Description | Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S... |
NCI | Research and training aimed to eliminate the suffering and death due to cancer Cancer Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the... . |
1937 |
| National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is one of the 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health , an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services... |
NIAID | Research goals include striving to understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious Infection An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease... , immunologic Immunology Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the... , and allergic diseases Allergy An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid... . The NIAID-funded Influenza Genome Sequencing Project Influenza Genome Sequencing Project The Influenza Genome Sequencing Project is an American-based genome project aimed at improving the availability of genomic sequence data from influenza viruses and related information.... is a collaborative effort designed to increase the genome knowledge base of influenza and help researchers understand how flu viruses evolve, spread and cause disease. |
1948 |
| National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research , is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and as such its function is to the promote the general health of the American people, by improving their oral, dental and craniofacial health. Dr... |
NIDCR | Provides leadership for a national research program designed to understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious and inherited craniofacial Craniofacial Craniofacial may be used to describe certain congenital malformations, injuries, surgeons who subspecialize in this area, multi-disciplinary medical-surgical teams that treat and do research on disorders affecting this region, and organizations with interest in... -oral-dental Dentistry Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered... diseases and disorders. |
1948 |
| National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases , of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, conducts and supports research on many of the most serious diseases affecting public health... |
NIDDK | Conducts and supports research and provides leadership for a national program in diabetes, endocrinology Endocrinology Endocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions called hormones, the integration of developmental events such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation and the coordination of... , and metabolic diseases, digestive disease Digestive disease All diseases that pertain to the gastrointestinal tract are labelled as digestive diseases. This includes diseases of the esophagus, stomach, first, second, and third part of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, the ileo-cecal complex, large intestine , sigmoid colon, and rectum.-Esophagus:*Esophagitis -... s and nutrition Nutrition Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet.... , and kidney Kidney The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and... , urologic Urology Urology is the medical and surgical specialty that focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the reproductive system of males. Medical professionals specializing in the field of urology are called urologists and are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with urological... , and hematologic diseases Hematology Hematology, also spelled haematology , is the branch of biology physiology, internal medicine, pathology, clinical laboratory work, and pediatrics that is concerned with the study of blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases... . |
1948 |
| National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute is a division of the National Institutes of Health, located in Bethesda, Maryland... |
NHLBI | Provides leadership for a national program in diseases of the heart Human heart The human heart is a muscular organ that provides a continuous blood circulation through the cardiac cycle and is one of the most vital organs in the human body... , blood vessel Blood vessel The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart; the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and... s, lung Human lung The human lungs are the organs of respiration in humans. Humans have two lungs, with the left being divided into two lobes and the right into three lobes. Together, the lungs contain approximately of airways and 300 to 500 million alveoli, having a total surface area of about in... , and blood Blood Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells.... ; blood resources; and sleep disorder Sleep disorder A sleep disorder, or somnipathy, is a medical disorder of the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders are serious enough to interfere with normal physical, mental and emotional functioning... s. Also has administrative responsibility for the NIH Women's Health Initiative Women's Health Initiative The Women's Health Initiative was initiated by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in 1991. The objective of this women's health research initiative was to conduct medical research into some of the major health problems of older women... . |
1948 |
| National Institute of Mental Health National Institute of Mental Health The National Institute of Mental Health is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health... |
NIMH | Understanding, treatment, and prevention of mental illnesses through basic research on the brain Human brain The human brain has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times larger than the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size. Estimates for the number of neurons in the human brain range from 80 to 120 billion... and behavior Human behavior Human behavior refers to the range of behaviors exhibited by humans and which are influenced by culture, attitudes, emotions, values, ethics, authority, rapport, hypnosis, persuasion, coercion and/or genetics.... , and through clinical, epidemiological Epidemiology Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive... , and services research. |
1949 |
| National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is a part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health . It conducts and funds research on brain and nervous system disorders and has a budget of just over US$1.5 billion... |
NINDS | Supports and conducts research, both basic and clinical, on the normal and diseased nervous system Nervous system The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous... , fosters the training of investigators in the basic and clinical neuroscience Neuroscience Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,... s, and seeks better understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorder Neurological disorder A neurological disorder is a disorder of the body's nervous system. Structural, biochemical or electrical abnormalities in the brain, spinal cord, or in the nerves leading to or from them, can result in symptoms such as paralysis, muscle weakness, poor coordination, loss of sensation, seizures,... s. |
1950 |
| National Library of Medicine United States National Library of Medicine The United States National Library of Medicine , operated by the United States federal government, is the world's largest medical library. Located in Bethesda, Maryland, the NLM is a division of the National Institutes of Health... |
NLM | NLM collects, organizes, and makes available biomedical science information to investigators, educators, and practitioners and carries out programs designed to strengthen medical library Medical library A health or medical library is designed to assist physicians, health professionals, students, patients, consumers and medical researchers in finding health and scientific information to improve, update, assess or evaluate health care. Medical libraries are typically found in hospitals, medical... services in the United States. The NLM established the National Center for Biotechnology Information National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information is part of the United States National Library of Medicine , a branch of the National Institutes of Health. The NCBI is located in Bethesda, Maryland and was founded in 1988 through legislation sponsored by Senator Claude Pepper... (NCBI) which is a central repository of biological information Biological database Biological databases are libraries of life sciences information, collected from scientific experiments, published literature, high-throughput experiment technology, and computational analyses. They contain information from research areas including genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microarray... and includes the PubMed PubMed PubMed is a free database accessing primarily the MEDLINE database of references and abstracts on life sciences and biomedical topics. The United States National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health maintains the database as part of the Entrez information retrieval system... literature database and the gene database GenBank GenBank The GenBank sequence database is an open access, annotated collection of all publicly available nucleotide sequences and their protein translations. This database is produced and maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information as part of the International Nucleotide Sequence... . The NCBI is one of the largest components of the NLM. |
1956 |
| National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development , created by Congress in 1962, supports and conducts research on topics related to the health of children, adults, families, and populations... |
NICHD | NICHD researchs fertility Fertility Fertility is the natural capability of producing offsprings. As a measure, "fertility rate" is the number of children born per couple, person or population. Fertility differs from fecundity, which is defined as the potential for reproduction... , pregnancy Pregnancy Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets... , growth Human development (biology) Human development is the process of growing to maturity. In biological terms, this entails growth from a one-celled zygote to an adult human being.- Biological development:... , development Child development Child development stages describe theoretical milestones of child development. Many stage models of development have been proposed, used as working concepts and in some cases asserted as nativist theories.... , and medical rehabilitation for the promotion of all aspects of child health Pediatrics Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician... . |
1962 |
| National Institute of General Medical Sciences National Institute of General Medical Sciences The National Institute of General Medical Sciences is a part of the National Institutes of Health that primarily supports research that lays the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention... |
NIGMS | NIGMS supports basic biomedical research not targeted to specific diseases, funds studies on gene Gene A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains... s, protein Protein Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of... s, and cell Cell (biology) The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos.... s, supports research training programs that produce the next generation of biomedical scientists, has special programs to encourage underrepresented minorities to pursue biomedical research careers. |
1962 |
| National Eye Institute National Eye Institute The National Eye Institute is one of the US National Institutes of Health that was established in 1968. The mission of NEI is to prolong and protect the vision of the American people. The NEI conducts and performs research into treating and preventing diseases affecting the eye or vision.... |
NEI | Conducts and supports research that helps prevent and treat eye diseases and other disorders of vision Visual system The visual system is the part of the central nervous system which enables organisms to process visual detail, as well as enabling several non-image forming photoresponse functions. It interprets information from visible light to build a representation of the surrounding world... . |
1968 |
| National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is a part of the National Institutes of Health , which is in turn a part of the Department of Health and Human Services .... |
NIEHS | Research on how environmental exposures, genetic susceptibility, and age interact to affect an individual's health. | 1969 |
| National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism , as part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, supports and conducts biomedical and behavioral research on the causes, consequences, treatment, and prevention of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems... |
NIAAA | NIAAA research is focused on improving the treatment and prevention of alcoholism Alcoholism Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing... and alcohol-related problems. |
1970 |
| National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institute on Drug Abuse The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a United States federal-government research institute whose mission is to "lead the Nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction."-History:... |
NIDA | NIDA supports and conducts research on drug abuse Drug abuse Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts... and addiction prevention, treatment, and policy. |
1973 |
| National Institute on Aging National Institute on Aging The National Institute on Aging ' is a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health , located in Baltimore, Maryland.The NIA leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life... |
NIA | Undertakes research on the biomedical, social, and behavioral aspects of the aging Gerontology Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging... process, prevention of age-related diseases Geriatrics Geriatrics is a sub-specialty of internal medicine and family medicine that focuses on health care of elderly people. It aims to promote health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in older adults. There is no set age at which patients may be under the care of a geriatrician, or... and disabilities, promotion of better quality of life for all older Americans. |
1974 |
| National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, or NIAMS, is an institute of the National Institutes of Health, an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services... |
NIAMS | NIAMS supports research into causes, treatment, and prevention of arthritis Arthritis Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints.... and musculoskeletal and skin Skin -Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat... diseases, the training of basic and clinical scientists to carry out this research, and the dissemination of information on research progress in these diseases. |
1986 |
| National Institute of Nursing Research National Institute of Nursing Research The National Institute of Nursing Research , as part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, supports clinical and basic research to establish a scientific basis for the care of individuals across the life span--from management of patients during illness and recovery, to the reduction of risks... |
NINR | NINR supports clinical and basic research to establish a scientific basis for the care of individuals across the life span. | 1986 |
| National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders , a member of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, is mandated to conduct and support biomedical and behavioral research and research training in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice,... |
NIDCD | Conducts and supports biomedical research and research training on normal mechanisms as well as diseases and disorders of hearing Hearing (sense) Hearing is the ability to perceive sound by detecting vibrations through an organ such as the ear. It is one of the traditional five senses... , balance Equilibrioception Equilibrioception or sense of balance is one of the physiological senses. It helps prevent humans and animals from falling over when walking or standing still. Balance is the result of a number of body systems working together: the eyes , ears and the body's sense of where it is in space ideally... , smell Olfaction Olfaction is the sense of smell. This sense is mediated by specialized sensory cells of the nasal cavity of vertebrates, and, by analogy, sensory cells of the antennae of invertebrates... , taste Taste Taste is one of the traditional five senses. It refers to the ability to detect the flavor of substances such as food, certain minerals, and poisons, etc.... , voice Human voice The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary... , speech, and language Language Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication... . |
1988 |
| National Human Genome Research Institute National Human Genome Research Institute The National Human Genome Research Institute is a division of the National Institutes of Health, located in Bethesda, Maryland.NHGRI began as the National Center for Human Genome Research , which was established in 1989 to carry out the role of the NIH in the International Human Genome Project... |
NHGRI | Supports the NIH component of the Human Genome Project Human Genome Project The Human Genome Project is an international scientific research project with a primary goal of determining the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up DNA, and of identifying and mapping the approximately 20,000–25,000 genes of the human genome from both a physical and functional... . NHGRI's Intramural Research Program develops and implements technology for understanding, diagnosing, and treating genetic diseases. |
1989 |
| National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering is the newest of the National Institutes of Health research institutes and centers and was formed in the United States when President Bill Clinton signed it into law on December 29, 2000.The Institute is committed to integrating the... |
NIBIB | Promotes fundamental discoveries, design and development, and translation and assessment of technological capabilities in biomedical imaging and bioengineering, enabled by relevant areas of information science Information science -Introduction:Information science is an interdisciplinary science primarily concerned with the analysis, collection, classification, manipulation, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information... , physics Physics Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic... , chemistry Chemistry Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds.... , mathematics Mathematics Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity... , materials science Materials science Materials science is an interdisciplinary field applying the properties of matter to various areas of science and engineering. This scientific field investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties. It incorporates... , and computer sciences Computer Sciences Computer Sciences can refer to:*The general field of computer science*Computer Sciences Corporation, the Fortune 500 Information Technology company... . |
2000 |
| National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities or NIMHD is a United States government agency. The stated mission of the NIMHD is to "promote minority health and to lead, coordinate, support, and assess the NIH effort to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities" It was... |
NIMHD | Promotes minority health, conducts and supports research, training, research infrastructure, fosters emerging programs, disseminates information, and reaches out to minority and other health disparity communities. | 2010 |
Centers of the NIH
In addition to being divided by research area, NIH has many operating groups called centers operating across all of the Institutes.| Name | Acronym | Description | Est. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center for Scientific Review Center for Scientific Review The Center for Scientific Review or CSR is the portal for United States National Institutes of Health grant applications and their review for scientific merit. The CSR organizes the peer review groups or study sections that evaluate the majority of the research grant applications sent to NIH... |
CSR | The CSR is the focal point at NIH for the conduct of initial peer review Peer review Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility... of grant and fellowship applications, implements ways to conduct referral and review. |
1946 | |
| Clinical Center National Institutes of Health Clinical Center The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland is one of the centers of National Institutes of Health. The Clincial Center is a hospital devoted entirely to clinical research in the United States. It consists of the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center and the Mark O.... |
CC | The clinical research Clinical research Clinical research is a branch of medical science that determines the safety and effectiveness of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use... facility of the National Institutes of Health; provides patient care, services, and environment needed to initiate and support conduct of and training in clinical research. |
1953 | |
| National Center for Research Resources National Center for Research Resources The National Center for Research Resources or NCRR, is a United States government agency. NCRR provides funding to laboratory scientists and researchers for facilities and tools in the goal of curing and treating diseases.-Organization and history:... |
NCRR | Research projects and shared resources in biomedical technology, clinical research, comparative medicine, and research infrastructure. | 1962 | |
| Center for Information Technology Center for Information Technology The Center for Information Technology is one of the 27 Institutes and Centers that comprise the National Institutes of Health , an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , a cabinet-level department of the Executive Branch of the United States Federal Government... |
CIT; formerly DCRT, OIRM, TCB | The CIT incorporates computers into the biomedical programs and administrative procedures of the NIH by conducting computational biosciences research, developing computer systems, and providing computer facilities. | 1964 | |
| John E. Fogarty International Center John E. Fogarty International Center The John E. Fogarty International Center is part of the federal government of the United States and is the only arm of the National Institutes of Health whose sole mission is to support global health. It is one of the 27 component organizations of the NIH, which is in turn part of the U.S.... |
FIC | Promotes and supports scientific research and training internationally to reduce disparities in global health Global health Global health is the health of populations in a global context and transcends the perspectives and concerns of individual nations. Health problems that transcend national borders or have a global political and economic impact, are often emphasized... . |
1968 | |
| Radiological Physics Center Radiological Physics Center -Mission statement:The mission of the Radiological Physics Center is to assure NCI and the Cooperative Groups that institutions participating in clinical trials deliver prescribed radiation doses that are clinically comparable and consistent.... |
RPC | Offers quality assurance to the National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S... (NCI) that all participating institutions in NCI sponsored cooperative groups are following the guidelines for the physics-related aspects of their protocols. |
1968 | |
| Quality Assurance Review Center Quality Assurance Review Center The Quality Assurance Review Center is a research program within the University of Massachusetts Medical School that provides radiotherapy quality assurance , diagnostic imaging data management, and clinical research support... |
QARC | Provides radiotherapy quality assurance and diagnostic imaging data management for all of the National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S... (NCI) sponsored cooperative groups. It also contracts privately with the pharmaceutical industry for its services in clinical trials involving anti-cancer drugs. |
1977 | |
| National Center for Biotechnology Information National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information is part of the United States National Library of Medicine , a branch of the National Institutes of Health. The NCBI is located in Bethesda, Maryland and was founded in 1988 through legislation sponsored by Senator Claude Pepper... |
NCBI | Established as a national resource for molecular biology information, NCBI creates public databases, conducts research in computational biology, develops software tools for analyzing genome data, and disseminates biomedical information - all for the better understanding of molecular processes affecting human health and disease. | 1988 | |
| National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine | NCCAM | Exploring complementary and alternative medical practices Alternative medicine Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence.... in the context of rigorous science, training researchers, disseminating authoritative information. |
1992 | |
| Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center | VRC | The mission of the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) is to conduct research that facilitates the development of effective vaccines for human disease. The primary focus of research is the development of vaccines for AIDS. | 1999 | |
| Bioinformatics Resource Centers Bioinformatics Resource Centers The Bioinformatics Resource Centers are a group of five Internet-based research centers established in 2004 and funded by NIAID The BRCs were formed in response to the threats posed by emerging and re-emerging pathogens, particularly CDC Category A, B, and C pathogens, and their potential use in... |
BRC | Provides genomic, proteomic, biochemical, and microbiological data from a wide range of emerging/re-emerging pathogens (NIAID Category A, B, and C). Contains eight sub-centers (the BRCs) each dedicated to a different group of pathogens. Data are presented in a database format accessible by Web interfaces, together with tools for analysis. | 2004 | |
| National Centers for Biomedical Computing Simtk-opensim OpenSim is an open source software system for biomechanical modeling, simulation and analysis. Its purpose is to provide free and widely accessible tools for conducting biomechanics research and motor control science... |
NCBC | Be the core of the networked national effort to build the computational infrastructure for biomedical computing in the nation. | 2004 | |
| Center for Tissue Regeneration and Engineering at Dayton Center for Tissue Regeneration and Engineering at Dayton The Center for Tissue Regeneration and Engineering at Dayton is a research center which focuses on tissue regeneration and is partenered with the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, Air Force Research Laboratory, and Ethicon Endo-Surgery. The center is located in... |
TREND | Focused on human tissue regeneration and nanotechnology. | 2006 |
Office of the Director
The Office of the Director is the central office at NIH. The OD is responsible for setting policy for NIH and for planning, managing, and coordinating the programs and activities of all the NIH components. Program offices in the Office of the Director are responsible for stimulating specific areas of research throughout NIH and for planning and supporting research and related activities. Current program areas are: minority health, women's health, AIDS research, disease prevention, and behavioral and social sciences research. In July 2009, President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
nominated Dr. Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., to be the Director of the NIH. On August 7, 2009, the US Senate confirmed Dr. Collins by unanimous vote.
Program offices within the Office of the Director fund research through the institutes:
| Full name | Acronym | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Extramural Research | OER | provides guidance to institutes in research and training programs conducted through extramural (grant, contract, cooperative agreement) programs |
| Office of Intramural Research | OIR | coordinates research conducted directly by NIH personnel through intramural programs |
| Office of Management | OM | responsible for management and financial functions of the NIH |
| Office of Administration | OA | advises the NIH Director and staff on administration and management; develops and implements policies, and provides oversight in the areas of information resources management, management assessment, grant administration and contract management, procurement, and logistics |
| Office of AIDS Research | OAR | formulates scientific policy for, and recommends allocation of research resources for AIDS research at NIH |
| Office of Biotechnology Activities | OBA | "monitors scientific progress in human genetics research in order to anticipate future developments, including ethical, legal, and social concerns, in basic and clinical research involving Recombinant DNA, Genetic Technologies, and Xenotransplantation" |
| Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research | OBSSR | advises the NIH Director and other key officials on matters relating to research on the role of human behavior in the development of health, prevention of disease, and therapeutic intervention |
| Office of Communications and Public Liaison | OCPL | advises the Director and communicates information about NIH policies, programs, and research results to the general public |
| Office of Community Liaison | OCL | advises the Director, plans, directs and oversees activities to promote collaboration between NIH and its community, and ensures effective communication on policy and programs involving the community |
| Office of Disease Prevention | ODP | coordinates NIH activities regarding the application of research to disease prevention, nutrition and medical practice |
| Office of Intramural Training and Education | OITE | provides a comprehensive guide to postdoctoral training opportunities available at the NIH |
| Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management | OEODM | advises the Director and NIH staff on matters related to equal employment opportunity programs and policies |
| Office of Financial Management | OFM | advises the NIH Director and staff and provides leadership and direction for NIH financial management activities; develops policies and instructions for budget preparation and presentation and administers allocation of funds and manages a system of fund and budgetary controls |
| Office of Human Resources | OHR | advises the NIH Director and staff on human resource management; directs central human resource management services; and provides NIH leadership and planning on human resource program development |
| Office of Legislative Policy and Analysis | OLPA | provides legislative analysis, policy development, and liaison with the United States Congress |
| Office of Portfolio Analysis and Strategic Initiatives | OPASI | provides the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its constituent Institutes and Centers (ICs) with the methods and information necessary to manage their large and complex scientific portfolios, identifies – in concert with multiple other inputs – important areas of emerging scientific opportunities or rising public health challenges, and assists in the acceleration of investments in these areas, focusing on those involving multiple ICs |
| Office of Research on Women's Health | ORWH | serves as a focal point for women's health research at the NIH. The ORWH promotes, stimulates, and supports efforts to improve the health of women through biomedical and behavioral research. ORWH works in partnership with the NIH institutes and centers to ensure that women's health research is part of the scientific framework at NIH and throughout the scientific community |
| Office of Science Education Office of Science Education The Office of Science Education of the United States National Institutes of Health plans, develops, and coordinates a comprehensive science education program to strengthen and enhance efforts of the NIH to attract young people to biomedical and behavioral science careers and to improve science... |
OSE | coordinates science education activities at the NIH and develops and sponsors science education projects in house. These programs serve elementary, secondary, and college students and teachers and the public. Free curriculum supplements developed in collaboration with curriculum writers, NIH divisions, and NIH scientists are available online and in hard copy at Curriculum Supplements. The OSE has also developed an interactive health and medical science career exploration web site for middle school and high school students called LifeWorks. Other educational resources from throughout the NIH are found on the OSE main page. |
| Office of Rare Diseases | ORDR | supports research on rare disease Rare disease A rare disease, also referred to as an orphan disease, is any disease that affects a small percentage of the population.Most rare diseases are genetic, and thus are present throughout the person's entire life, even if symptoms do not immediately appear... s and collaborates with related organizations such as the National Organization for Rare Disorders National Organization for Rare Disorders The National Organization for Rare Disorders is an American non-profit organization aiming to provide support individuals with rare diseases by advocating and funding research, education, and networking among service providers... . The Office of Rare Diseases was first established within the Office of the Director in 1993, and then by public law Public law Public law is a theory of law governing the relationship between individuals and the state. Under this theory, constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law are sub-divisions of public law... statute in 2002. |
History
The predecessor of the NIH began in 1887 as the Laboratory of Hygiene. It grew and was reorganized in 1930 by the Ransdell ActRansdell Act
The Ransdell Act , reorganized, expanded and redesignated the Laboratory of Hygiene as the National Institute of Health....
into the National Institute of Health (singular at the time).
Research
NIH devotes 10% of its funding to research within its own facilities (intramural research). They give 80% of its funding in research grantGrant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
s to extramural (outside) researchers. The extramural funding consists of about 50,000 grants to more than 325,000 researchers at more than 3000 institutions. , NIH spent (not including temporary funding from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act) on clinical research
Clinical research
Clinical research is a branch of medical science that determines the safety and effectiveness of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use...
, on genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
-related research, on prevention research, on cancer, and on biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
.
In 2011, a Science
Science (magazine)
Science was a general science magazine published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science . It was intended to "bridge the distance between science and citizen", aimed at a technically literate audience who may not work professionally in the sciences...
paper found that black researchers were 10% less likely to win NIH R01 grants (the oldest and most widely-used) than white researchers, after controlling for "educational background, country of origin, training, previous research awards, publication record, and employer characteristics." It also found that black researchers are significantly less likely to resubmit an unapproved grant than white researchers. The study lead and economist Donna Grant said that grant reviewers do not have access to the applicant race, but may infer it from biographies or names. She also speculated that the decreased re-submission rate may be due to lack of mentoring.
Economic impact
In 2000, a report from a Joint Economic Committee of Congress outlined the benefits of NIH research. It noted that some econometric studies had given its research, which was funded at $16 billion a year in 2000, a rate of return of 25 to 40 percent per year. It also found that of the 21 drugs with the highest therapeutic impact on society introduced between 1965 and 1992, public funding was "instrumental" for 15.Notable staff
- Ezekiel Emanuel, physician and bioethicist
- Robert MartensenRobert Martensen-Career and publications:Martensen has worked as physician in emergency room and intensive care unit settings and as a professor at Harvard Medical School and Tulane University, teaching bioethics and medical history...
, physician, author, historian, and director of the Office of History
See also
- Unethical human experimentation in the United States
- National Institutes of Health Director's Pioneer AwardNational Institutes of Health Director's Pioneer AwardNational Institutes of Health Director's Pioneer Award is a research initiative first announced in 2004 designed to support individual scientists' biomedical research...
- The Proteolysis MapThe Proteolysis MapThe Proteolysis MAP is an integrated web resource focused on proteases.-Rationale:PMAP is to aid the protease researchers in reasoning about proteolytic networks and metabolic pathways.-History and funding:...
- United States Public Health ServiceUnited States Public Health ServiceThe Public Health Service Act of 1944 structured the United States Public Health Service as the primary division of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare , which later became the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The PHS comprises all Agency Divisions of Health and...