National Institutes of Health

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

National Institutes of Health

"NIH" redirects here. For other meanings of NIH, see NIH (disambiguation)
NIH (disambiguation)

NIH can refer to* National Institutes of Health * National Institute of Health * Norwegian School of Sport Sciences* "Not Invented Here" a term and label developed in the computer industry referring to organizations incapable of using technology from other organizations....
.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services

United States Department of Health and Human Services

The United States Department of Health and Human Services , is a United States Cabinet department of the United States government of the United States with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services....
and is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health

Health

In 1948, the World Health Organisation defined health as ?a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.? ...
-related research.

Discussion

Ask a question about 'National Institutes of Health'

Start a new discussion about 'National Institutes of Health'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Encyclopedia

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services

United States Department of Health and Human Services

Health

In 1948, the World Health Organisation defined health as ?a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.? ...
-related research. 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....
.

As of 2003, the Institutes are responsible for 28%—about $28 billion—of the total biomedical research funding spent annually in the U.S., with most of the rest coming from industry. The NIH is divided into two parts: the "Extramural" parts of NIH are responsible for the funding of biomedical research outside of NIH, while the "Intramural" parts of NIH conduct research. 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 Division of Intramural Research on this campus spread out among various buildings....
in Bethesda

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 Presbyterian Church, built in 1820 and rebuilt in 1850, which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda....
in unincorporated Montgomery County

Montgomery County, Maryland

Montgomery County of the U.S. state of Maryland is situated just north of Washington, D.C. and southwest of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the nation, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years old who hold a post-graduate degree....
, Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic States of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia and the Washington, D.C. to the south and west, Pennsylvania to the north, and Delaware to the east....
, and the surrounding communities. The National Institute of Aging and the National Institute on Drug Abuse are located in Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore is an independent city and the largest city in the U.S. state of Maryland in the United States. Baltimore is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay....
, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is in Research Triangle

The Triangle (North Carolina)

The Research Triangle, commonly referred to as "The Triangle", is a region in the Piedmont of North Carolina in the United States, anchored by the cities of Raleigh, North Carolina, Durham, North Carolina, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina....
, North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north....
. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases NIAID maintains Rocky Mountain Labs in Hamilton, Montana, with an emphasis on virology.

The predecessor of the NIH began in 1887 as the Laboratory of Hygiene. It grew and was reorganized in 1930 by the Ransdell Act

Ransdell Act

The Ransdell Act , reorganized, expanded and redesignated the Hygienic Laboratory as the National Institute of Health .Congress appropriated $750,000 in the bill for construction of facilities and research fellowships....
into the National Institute of Health (singular at the time). Today it is one of the world's foremost medical research centers, and the Federal focal point for medical research in the U.S. The NIH, comprising 27 separate institutes, centers and the Office of the Director, is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services

United States Department of Health and Human Services

The United States Department of Health and Human Services , is a United States Cabinet department of the United States government of the United States with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services....
. The current NIH Acting Director is Raynard Kington.

The goal of NIH research is to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease

Disease

A disease or medical condition is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions, associated with specific symptoms and Medical signs....
and disability

Disability

Disability is a lack of ability relative to a personal or group standard or norm. In reality there is often simply a spectrum of ability. Disability may involve physical impairment such as sense impairment, cognitive impairment or intellectual impairment, mental disorder , or various types of chronic disease....
, from the rarest genetic disorder

Genetic disorder

A genetic disorder is an illness caused by abnormalities in genes or chromosomes. While some diseases, such as cancer, are due in part to a genetic disorders, they can also be caused by Environment factors....
to the common cold

Common cold

Acute viral rhinopharyngitis, or acute coryza, usually known as the common cold, is a highly contagious, virus infectious disease of the upper respiratory system, primarily caused by picornaviruses or coronaviruses....
. 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 the broadest sense, refers to any person that engages in a system activity to acquire knowledge or an individual that engages in such practices and traditions that are linked to schools of thought or philosophy....
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 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.In addition to a medical degree program, some medical schools offer programs leading to a Master's Degree, Doctor of Philosophy , or other post-secondary education....
s, hospital

Hospital

A hospital is an institution for health care providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment, and often but not always providing for 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 United States Federal government's National Institutes of Health. The NCI is a federally funded research and development center, one of eight agencies that compose the United States Public Health Service in the United States Department of Health and Human Services....	NCI	Research and training aimed to eliminate the suffering and death due to cancer Cancer Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cell display uncontrolled growth , invasion , and sometimes metastasis . These three malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, do not invade or metastasize.... .	1937
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is a component of the National Institutes of Health , which is 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 detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. In an infection, the infecting organism seeks to utilize the host resources to multiply .... , immunologic Immunology Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with, among other things, the physiology functioning of the immune system in states of both health and disease; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the physical, chemical an... , and allergic diseases Allergy Allergy is a Disorder of the immune system often also referred to as atopy. Allergic reactions occur to Natural environmental substances known as allergens; these reactions are Acquired disorder, 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....	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 cratain 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 disorders of the craniofacial structures.... -oral-dental Dentistry Dentistry is the known evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the mouth, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body.... 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 medicine dealing with disorder of the endocrine system and its specific secretions called hormones.... , 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.... 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 good nutrition.... , and kidney Kidney The kidneys are Organ that have numerous biological roles. Their primary role is to maintain the homeostasis balance of bodily fluids by filtering and secreting Metabolomics#Metabolitess and minerals from the blood and excreting them, along with water , as urine.... , urologic Urology Urology is the 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 disorders.... , and hematologic diseases Hematology Hematology, American_and_British_English_spelling_differences#Simplification_of_ae_.28.C3.A6.29_and_oe_.28.C5.93.29 haematology, is the branch of biology , pathology, clinical laboratory, internal medicine, 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. It is tasked with allocating about $2.7 billion in United States tax revenue per year , to advancing the understanding of: development and progression of disease, diagnosis of disease, treatment of disease, diseas...	NHLBI	Provides leadership for a national program in diseases of the heart Heart The heart is a muscle organ in all vertebrates responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions, or a similar structure in annelids, mollusks, and arthropods.... , blood vessel Blood vessel The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transport blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the artery, which carry the blood away from the heart, the capillary, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and the tissues; and the veins, which carry blood from... s, lung Lung The lung is the essential respiration organ in air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located in the chest on either side of the heart.... , and blood Blood Blood is a specialized bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's Cell s ? such as nutrients and oxygen ? and transports waste products away from those same cells.... ; blood resources; and sleep disorder Sleep disorder A sleep disorder 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 Woman's Health Initiative.	1948
National Institute of Mental Health National Institute of Mental Health The National Institute of Mental Health is part of the federal government of the United States and the largest research organization in the world specializing in mental illness....	NIMH	Understanding, treatment, and prevention of mental illnesses through basic research on the brain Brain The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate, and most invertebrate, animals. Some primitive animals such as cnidarian and echinoderm have a decentralized nervous system without a brain, while sponges lack any nervous system at all.... and behavior Behavior Behavior or behaviour refers to the action s or reactions of an object or organism, usually in Relational theory to the environment. Behavior can be conscious or Unconscious mind, overt or covert, and voluntary or involuntary.... , and through clinical, epidemiological Epidemiology Epidemiology is the study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations, and serves as the foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and preventive medicine.... , 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.The NINDS conducts and supports research on brain and nervous system disorders....	NINDS	Supports and conducts research, both basic and clinical, on the normal and diseased nervous system Nervous system The nervous system is a Neural network of specialized cells that communicate information about an animal's surroundings and itself. It processes this information and causes reactions in other parts of the body.... , fosters the training of investigators in the basic and clinical neuroscience Neuroscience Neuroscience is a field devoted to the scientific study of the nervous system. The Society for Neuroscience was founded in 1969, but the study of the brain started a long time ago.... s, and seeks better understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorders.	1950
National Library of Medicine	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.... 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.... (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.... and includes the PubMed PubMed PubMed is a free search engine for accessing the MEDLINE bibliographic database of citations, abstracts and some full text articles on life sciences and biomedical topics.... 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.... . 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 File:US-NIH-NICHD-2008Logo.svg? 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 giving life. As a measure, "fertility rate" is the number of children born per couple, person or population.... , pregnancy Pregnancy Pregnancy is the carrying of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, inside the uterus of a female. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or Multiple birth.... , 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.... , 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 nativism theories.... , and medical rehabilitation for the promotion of all aspects of child health Pediatrics Differences between adult and pediatric medicinePediatrics differs from adult medicine in many respects. The obvious body size differences are paralleled by maturational changes.... .	1962
National Institute of General Medical Sciences National Institute of General Medical Sciences The U.S. National Institute of General Medical Sciences is one of the National Institutes of Health , the principal biomedical research agency of the Federal Government....	NIGMS	NIGMS supports basic biomedical research not targeted to specific diseases, funds studies on gene Gene A gene is the basic unit of heredity in a living organism. All living things depend on genes. Genes hold the information to build and maintain their cell and pass genetic trait to offspring.... s, protein Protein Proteins are organic compounds made of amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of adjacent amino acid Residue .... s, and cell Cell (biology) The cell is the structural and functional unit of all known Life organisms. It is the smallest unit of an organism that is classified as living, and is often called the building bricks of life.... 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 United States National Institutes of Health that was established in 1968. The mission of NEI is to prolong and protect the vision of the American people....	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 allows organisms to visual perception.It interprets the information from visible light to build a representation of the world surrounding the body.... .	1968
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is one of 27 Institutes and Centers of the National Institutes of Health ,which is a component 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 term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions to describe the detrimental effects of alcohol intake.In common and historic usage, alcoholism refers to any condition that results in the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages despite health problems and negative social consequences.... 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."...	NIDA	NIDA supports and conducts research on drug abuse Drug abuse Drug abuse has a huge range of definitions related to taking a psychoactive drug or performance enhancing drug for a non-therapeutic or non-medical effect.... and addiction Drug addiction Drug addiction is widely considered a Pathology. The disorder of addiction involves the progression of acute drug use to the development of drug-seeking behavior, the vulnerability to relapse, and the decreased, slowed ability to respond to naturally rewarding stimuli.... 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 Bethesda, 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, Psychology and Biology aspects of Ageing. It is distinguished from geriatrics, which is the branch of medicine that studies the disease of the elderly.... process, prevention of age-related diseases Geriatrics Geriatrics is the branch of medicine that focuses on health care of the elderly. It aims to promote health and to Prevention and treat diseases and disabilities in older adults.... 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 group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in people older than fifty-five years.... and musculoskeletal and skin Skin The skin is the outer covering of the body, also known as the epidermis. It is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of epithelial biological tissue, and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and organ s.... 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 for disease and disability, and the promotion...	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, olfaction, taste, Human voice, Speech communication, and language....	NIDCD	Conducts and supports biomedical research and research training on normal mechanisms as well as diseases and disorders of hearing Hearing (sense) Hearing is one of the traditional five senses. It is the ability to perceive sound by detecting vibrations via an organ such as the ear. The inability to hear is called deafness.... , balance Equilibrioception Equilibrioception or sense of balance is one of the physiology senses. It helps prevent humans and animals from falling over when walking or standing still.... , smell Olfaction Olfaction refers to 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 Sorry, no overview for this topic , voice Human voice The human voice consists of sound Voice production by a human being using the vocal folds for Speech communication, singing, Laughter, crying, screaming, etc.... , speech, and language Language A language is a form of symbol communication in which elements are combined to represents something other than themselves. Language can also refer to the use of such systems as a general phenomenon.... .	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 was an international scientific research project with a primary goal to determine the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up DNA and to identify and map the approximately 20,000-25,000 genes of the human genome from both a physical and functional standpoint... . 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 when President Bill Clinton signed it into law on December 29, 2000....	NIBIB	Promotes fundamental discoveries, design and development, and translation and assessment of technological capabilities in biomedical imaging and bioengineering Bioengineering Bioengineering is the application of engineering principles to address challenges in the fields of biology and medicine. As a study, it encompasses biomedical engineering and it is related to biotechnology.... , enabled by relevant areas of information science Information science Information science is an interdisciplinarity science primarily concerned with the collection, Categorization, manipulation, storage, information retrieval and dissemination of information.... , physics Physics Physics is the natural science which examines basic concepts such as energy, force, and spacetime and all that derives from these, such as mass, charge, matter and its Motion .... , chemistry Chemistry Chemistry is the science concerned with the composition, structure, and properties of matter, as well as the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions.... , mathematics Mathematics Mathematics is the study of quantity, structure, space, change, and related topics of pattern and form. Mathematicians seek out patterns whether found in numbers, space, natural science, computers, imaginary abstractions, or elsewhere.... , materials science Materials science Materials science or materials engineering is an interdisciplinary field involving the properties of matter and its applications to various areas of science and engineering.... , and computer sciences Computer Sciences Computer Sciences can refer to:The general field of computer scienceComputer Sciences Corporation, the Fortune 500 Information Technology company... .	2000

Centers of the NIH

In addition to being divided by research area, NIH has many operating groups called centers which operate within across all of the Institutes.

Name	Acronym	Description	Est.
Center for Scientific Review Center for Scientific Review File:US-NIH-CSR-Logo.svgThe Center for Scientific Review or CSR is the portal for United States National Institutes of Health grant applications and their review for scientific merit....	CSR	The CSR is the focal point at NIH for the conduct of initial peer review Peer review Peer review is the process of subjecting an author's Scholarly method work, research, or ideas to the scrutiny of others who are experts in the same field.... of grant and fellowship applications, implements ways to conduct referral and review.	1946
Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center	CC	The clinical research Clinical research Clinical research is a branch of medical science that determines the safety and effectiveness of medications, Medical device, diagnosticss, and medical treatment 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....	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 an agency of the Federal government of the United States. CIT, first established in 1964 as the Division of Computer Research and Technology , provides the technological and computational support and services for the National Institutes of Health community....	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....	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 StatementThe 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 United States Federal government's National Institutes of Health. The NCI is a federally funded research and development center, one of eight agencies that compose the United States Public Health Service in the United States Department of Health and Human Services.... (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 United States Federal government's National Institutes of Health. The NCI is a federally funded research and development center, one of eight agencies that compose the United States Public Health Service in the United States Department of Health and Human Services.... (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....	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 The term alternative medicine, as used in the modern western world, encompasses any healing practice "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine".... in the context of rigorous science, training researchers, disseminating authoritative information.	1992
National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities	NCMHD	NCMHD leads, coordinates, supports, and assesses the NIH effort to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities in minority groups; conduct and support basic, clinical, social, and behavioral research, reach out to minority and other health disparity communities.	1993
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 eight 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 pathogen, particularly CDC Category A, B, and C pathogens, and their potential use in bioterrorism....	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

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.

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	responsibe 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 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 literacy in both adults and children....	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 The OSE has also developed an interactive health and medical science career exploration web site for middle school and high school students called Other educational resources from throughout the NIH are found on the
Office of Rare Diseases	ORDR	supports research on rare disease Rare disease A rare disease has such a low prevalence in a population that a physician in a busy general practice would not expect to see more than one case a year.... 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 United States of America 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.

External links

official podcast
- record of clinical trials including participation requirements
A comprehensive resource providing HIV/AIDS treatment and clinical trials information
Information about NIH NIAID vaccine research clinical trials
from The Federal Register *

National Institutes of Health

Institutes

Centers of the NIH

Office of the Director

See also

External links