NIH 101 – Why NIH?

1. NIH 101 – Why NIH? Joan P. Schwartz, PhD Assistant Director, Office of Intramural Research Office of the Director jps@helix.nih.gov

2. National Institutes of Health The mission of the NIH is to uncover new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone by: conducting research in its own laboratories (intramural) providing support for research conducted by scientists in universities, medical schools, hospitals, and other research institutions throughout the country and abroad (extramural) training research investigators fostering the communication of medical information

3. National Institutes of Health (FY 2008 $29.4 billion) Research Management& Support 3% IntramuralResearch 10% Research Grants 71% All Other 6% R&DContracts 7% ResearchTraining3% Over 80% of NIH funds support extramural research

4. NIH consists of 27 Institutes and Centers NHLBI NINR OD NIBIB NCCAM NIEHS NCI NIAMS CIT NIDA NEI NIMH CC NIDDK NLM NINDS NHGRI NIDCR NCMHD NIA NIDCD NIAAA NICHD NIAID CSR NCRR NIGMS FIC = Extramural only

5. Intramural Program Structure Scientific Director Laboratories and Branches Sections and Units Individual Principal Investigators (PIs) (tenured senior investigators and tenure-track investigators)

6. How many researchers are at NIH? 1,000 summer students 600 postbaccalaureate trainees 100 medical students 450 graduate students 3,800 postdoctoral fellows • 300 staff clinicians 900 staff scientists 240 tenure-track investigators 900 senior investigators 1140 intramural research laboratories & clinical branches

7. The NIH has 75 buildings on 322 acres in Bethesda, Maryland

8. NIAIDHamilton, MT NIA, NIDABaltimore, MD NIHBethesda, MD NIHBethesda, MD NIDDKPhoenix, AZ NIEHSRaleigh/Durham, NC NIEHSRaleigh/Durham, NC

9. Other NIH Research Sites NIEHS – Research Triangle Park, NC NIDA and NIA – Baltimore, MD NIAID Rocky Mountain Labs, Montana NIDDK Diabetes/Obesity – Phoenix, AZ NICHD – Detroit, MI NCI – Frederick, MD

10. Key elements of intramural program • Intellectual freedom: ability to do high-risk, high- impact science because of a predominantly retrospective review system • Stable resources and funding for new technology and long-term projects • A critical mass of talent to collaborate with: recruitment from diverse sources, “an eye for talent” • Leadership that recognizes the unique features of the NIH intramural program and preserves them – support for unconventional ideas

11. Unique Features of Intramural Research • Well-equipped, safe, modern research laboratories (6,800,000 sq. ft.) • State-of-the-art equipment • Extensive animal facilities • Effective technology transfer program

12. Unique Features of Intramural Research • Clinical Center--a hospital dedicated to research • Access to patients with rare diseases from across the U.S. and the world • ICs with specific disease orientations • Ability to respond quickly to public health threats

13. Key intramural achievements • Development of cell/tissue culture media and techniques • First cure of a solid tumor (choriocarcinoma) using chemotherapy • First clinical trial of lithium for depression • Critical contributions to understanding the cause, pathophysiology, and drugs for HIV-AIDS • Development of sequence similarity database searching and comparison • Research resulting in 5 Nobel Prizes, including the elucidation of the genetic code

14. Interdisciplinary Research Areas • Bench-to-bedside/translational research • Physics, chemistry, and engineering in biology • - Structural biology • - Robotics • - Tissue engineering • Computational biology/bioinformatics • Obesity • Stem cell research • Prevention/inflammation

15. New Trans-NIH Research Initiatives • Center for Human Immunology • Center for Systems Biology and Medicine • Imaging Initiative • Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Transplantation Center • NIH Director’s Challenge Awards

16. Types of Postdoctoral Fellowships Available • IRTA – Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) - for US citizens or permanent residents • Visiting Fellow Award - for foreign nationals For both: - Must be within 5 yrs of doctoral degree conferral - First year stipend range $41,200 -$47,200 - Includes health insurance for individual or family - Appointment for up to 5 years • Research or Clinical Fellow - for senior fellows • National Research Council Fellowships • Intramural Fellowship to Promote Diversity

17. NIH organizations which support postdoctoral fellows NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education NIH Fellows Committee (FELCOM) IC Offices of Fellowship Training NIH Scientific Conduct and Ethics Committee

18. Research and Training Activities for Fellows • Over 100 scientific interest groups • Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series (WALS) • NIH Director’s seminar series • FAES courses • Demystifying Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology, Clinical Research, Bioinformatics, Genomics and Computer courses • Computer-based training courses

19. Bridge research grants for senior fellows • K99/R00 grants • K22 grants • Burroughs-Wellcome bridge grants • American Heart Assn. Scientist Development Grant

20. The Scientist Congratulated the NIH for being voted among the Best Places to Work For Postdocs 2006 By the readers of the Scientist

21. Web Sites NIH www.nih.gov Intramural Training Opportunities http://www.training.nih.gov Extramural Training Opportunities http://grants.nih.gov/training/extramural.htm

22. National Institutes of Health “Unlimited Opportunities for Postdoctoral Fellows”