National Institutes Of Health

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary U.S. federal agency for biomedical and public health research.
• Its core mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and apply that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.
• The NIH supports a vast array of research areas, from basic science to clinical trials, addressing numerous diseases and health conditions.
• Funding for biomedical research is primarily provided through competitive grants awarded to scientists at universities and research institutions across the U.S. and internationally.
• The NIH’s work significantly contributes to medical advancements, public health policies, and the development of new treatments and preventions.

What is the National Institutes of Health (NIH)?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest biomedical research agency in the world, an integral part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1887, it serves as the nation’s medical research agency, supporting scientific studies that turn discovery into health. The NIH comprises 27 separate institutes and centers, each focusing on specific disease areas or aspects of health. Its primary goal is to improve human health through groundbreaking scientific research, both within its own laboratories and through extensive external funding.

The work of the NIH spans a wide spectrum, from fundamental basic science to translational research that bridges laboratory discoveries with clinical applications, and ultimately to clinical trials. This comprehensive approach ensures that scientific advancements are systematically pursued to address pressing health challenges.

National Institutes of Health Mission and Research Focus

The overarching National Institutes of Health mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and to apply that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. This mission guides all activities undertaken by the NIH, from setting research priorities to allocating funding, fostering creative and innovative research.

The scope of NIH research areas is incredibly broad, reflecting the complexity of human health and disease. These areas include, but are not limited to:

• Cancer biology and treatment
• Cardiovascular diseases and stroke
• Infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and emerging pathogens
• Neurological disorders and mental health conditions
• Diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases
• Allergy and infectious diseases
• Child health and human development
• Aging and age-related conditions
• Environmental health sciences
• Genomics and precision medicine

Through these diverse research portfolios, the NIH aims to understand, prevent, diagnose, and treat a vast array of health conditions, ultimately improving public health worldwide. For instance, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 74% of all deaths globally. NIH research contributes significantly to understanding and combating NCDs, as well as infectious diseases.

How Does the NIH Fund Biomedical Research?

The NIH primarily funds biomedical research through a competitive grant process, supporting scientists at thousands of universities, medical schools, and other research institutions globally. This external funding mechanism is central to the NIH’s strategy for advancing scientific discovery. Researchers submit grant applications outlining proposed studies, which then undergo rigorous peer review by independent scientific experts, ensuring only meritorious projects receive funding.

Funding mechanisms are diverse, tailored to different research stages and investigators. They include research project grants (R01s), career development awards, training grants, and program project grants. In fiscal year 2023, the NIH budget was approximately $47.8 billion, a substantial portion distributed as grants. This extensive network enables a decentralized yet highly coordinated national research effort, fostering innovation and collaboration. The NIH also supports intramural research by its own scientists, contributing directly to scientific knowledge.