National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a government agency of the United States whose mission is to seek knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and to apply that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life and reduce illness and disability. NIH works to develop, maintain and renew scientific human and physical resource to ensure the capability of the U.S. to prevent disease. The NIH aims to enhance the economic well-being of the U.S. by expanding the knowledge base in medical and associated sciences and ensuring high return on public investment in research. One of the goals of the NIH is to promote the highest level of scientific integrity, public accountability and social responsibility in the conduct of science.

The NIH provides leadership by conducting and supporting research in the following areas: Diagnosis, prevention and cures for human diseases; Human growth and development; Biological effect of environmental contaminants; Mental, addictive and physical disorders; Programs for collection, dissemination and exchange of information in medicine and health, including training of medical librarians and health information specialists.