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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 thatimprove health,revolutionize science, andserve societymore broadly.
Evidence of the varied, long-term impacts of NIH activities comes from a variety of sources, ranging from studies on specific health topics, to broader analyses of NIH as a whole. Explore the sections below to discover more about how NIH provides value for the public’s investment.
Improving Health
Discoveries emerging from NIH-supported research have led to new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat illness, ultimately improving the health of the nation and the world.
Revolutionizing Science
NIH fuels the biomedical research enterprise—cultivating world-class scientists and catalyzing new scientific fields, tools, and resources that have changed how science is done.
Serving Society
NIH-supported research leads to improvements in health that can bolster the economy, improve productivity, and reduce the costly burden of illness. NIH funding also supports jobs and innovations that advance the biotechnology sector.
Our Stories
The knowledge produced by NIH-supported research can take many years and pass through many stages on its pathway toward improving health. Explore stories of how NIH has contributed to successful health interventions, and how these interventions have made a difference in our lives.
Learn More About NIH
- Research Matters — weekly update of recent NIH research highlights
- NIH RePORT — reports, data, and analyses of NIH research activities
- NIH Clinical Trials — overview of NIH-funded clinical trials and how you can participate
- Celebration of Science: NIH Highlights — spotlighting remarkable advances from NIH-supported scientists
- NIH Home Page — learn how NIH and its 27 institutes and centers work
- NIH Director’s blog — NIH Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli discusses new discoveries and latest trends in biomedical research and medicine
- NIH Catalyst — bimonthly NIH newsletter that showcases the scientific research conducted at the NIH
- NIH Record — biweekly NIH newsletter that covers issues of significance to NIH staff, contractors, and trainees
- NIH History Office & Stetten Museum — discover the scientific, legislative, and social history of the National Institutes of Health
NIH Research News
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How lung distress from SARS-CoV-2 can cause heart damage
April 2, 2024 — Researchers found that SARS-CoV-2 can damage heart tissue without directly infecting it.
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Gum disease-related bacteria tied to colorectal cancer
April 2, 2024 — Scientists identified a specific subtype of bacteria implicated in gum disease that may promote the growth of colorectal tumors.
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Skin test detects evidence of Parkinson’s and related disorders
April 2, 2024 — A study showed that a simple skin biopsy could identify people who had Parkinson’s disease or similar disorders with a high degree of accuracy.
