National institutes of health
United States government agency responsible for biomedical and public health research
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research. It is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. The NIH is composed of 27 separate institutes and centers that conduct research in different areas of medical science.
History[edit | edit source]
The NIH traces its origins to the Marine Hospital Service, which was established in 1798. The Hygienic Laboratory, the NIH's predecessor, was founded in 1887. The NIH was formally established in 1930 with the passage of the Ransdell Act.
Mission[edit | edit source]
The mission of the NIH is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. The NIH provides leadership and financial support to researchers in every state and throughout the world.
Organization[edit | edit source]
The NIH is made up of 27 institutes and centers, each with a specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems. Some of the notable institutes include:
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Research and Funding[edit | edit source]
The NIH is the largest source of funding for medical research in the world, providing billions of dollars in grants to researchers. The NIH also conducts its own research through its Intramural Research Program, which includes the NIH Clinical Center, the largest hospital in the world devoted entirely to clinical research.
Impact[edit | edit source]
Research funded by the NIH has led to numerous medical breakthroughs, including the development of vaccines, treatments for chronic diseases, and advances in genetic research. The NIH plays a critical role in advancing medical knowledge and improving public health.
Also see[edit | edit source]
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Food and Drug Administration
- World Health Organization
- Biomedical research
| Secretariat staff offices |
|  |
|---|---|---|
| Public Health Service |
| |
| Human services agencies | ||
| Programs | ||
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
