About the NIH (2024)

FAQs

Why is the NIH a credible source? ›

A trusted, credible source will often describe how they review information. For example, NIH's National Cancer Institute (NCI) website says, “Medical experts, cancer researchers, and editors review the content before it is published to the website.”

NIH is the steward of medical and behavioral research for the Nation. Its mission 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 National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation's medical research agency — making important discoveries that improve health and save lives.

NIH-supported research leads to improvements in health that can bolster the economy, improve productivity, and reduce the costly burden of illness. NIH-supported research findings result in changes that benefit society and the economy. Image credit: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH.

NIH health and science experts also review each story before it's published. The goal is to give you reliable, science-based information so you can make informed decisions about staying healthy and seeking medical care.

The NIH conducts its own scientific research through the NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP) and provides major biomedical research funding to non-NIH research facilities through its Extramural Research Program. Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.

As an NIH employee, you may be entitled to the seven benefit programs (health, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, life, long term care, and retirement). For more information about these programs and their rates, go to www.opm.gov/insure.

Purpose: The Significance section should explain the importance of the problem or describe the critical barrier to progress in the field that is being addressed. Explain how the proposed research project will improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice in one or more broad fields.

Almost all of NIH's funding is provided in the annual Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations Act.

NIH accomplishments in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human disease. These include progress on two Ebola vaccines, a bionic pancreas to treat type 1 diabetes, and a genetic test that improves blood thinner dosing.

Who runs the NIH? ›

NIH Director Monica M.

Bertagnolli, M.D., is the 17th director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

NIH works to turn scientific discoveries into better health for all. As the largest public funder of biomedical and behavioral research in the world, NIH is the driving force behind decades of advances that improve health, revolutionize science, and serve society more broadly.

NIH is also a leading source of scientific knowledge for the world, which bolsters the nation's strength in lasting ways. NIH fundamental research has led to 153 Nobel Prizes and 198 Lasker Prizes.

NIH conducts scientific investigation in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems. NIH applies that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.

NIH seeks to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.

NIH has a longstanding and time-tested system of peer review to identify the most promising biomedical research.

The NIH supports dissemination and implementation (D&I) research on how evidence-based practices, interventions, and policies are effectively translated to and used in real-world settings like hospitals, schools, and communities.

The National Library of Medicine (NLM), the world's largest biomedical library, produces trusted health information used by health professionals, students, researchers, innovators, medical librarians, and the public to advance medicine and improve public health.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) offers authoritative information about mental disorders, a range of related topics, and the latest mental health research.