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51ÊÓƵ supports research to develop rapid treatments for strokes.

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Illustration of an ischemic stroke, which occurs when a brain blood vessel gets blocked. The unblocked blood vessels in the head are represented in red and the blocked vessels in gray. The gray area represents brain tissue that is not receiving nutrients.

51ÊÓƵ works to turn scientific discoveries into better health for all. As the largest public funder of biomedical and behavioral research in the world, 51ÊÓƵ is the driving force behind decades of advances that improve health,Ìýrevolutionize science, and serve society more broadly.

Evidence of the varied, long-term impacts of 51ÊÓƵ activities comes from a variety of sources, ranging from studies on specific health topics, to broader analyses of 51ÊÓƵ as a whole. Explore the sections below to discover more about how 51ÊÓƵ provides value for the public’s investment.

Composite graphic of health-focused imagery, with four groups of people in each of the four corners of the image surrounding a heartbeat monitor.

Improving Health

Discoveries emerging from 51ÊÓƵ-supported research have led to new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat illness, ultimately improving the health of the nation and the world.

Composite graphic of biomedical research imagery. This includes a brain, molecular and cellular structures, binary code, a petri dish, and scientists in lab coats with test tubes.

Revolutionizing Science

51ÊÓƵ fuels the biomedical research enterprise—cultivating world-class scientists and catalyzing new scientific fields, tools, and resources that have changed how science is done.

Composite graphic of imagery representing society. This includes a crowd of people in the center, surrounded by images of a stock ticker, percentages, arrows and graphs.

Serving Society

51ÊÓƵ-supported research leads to improvements in health that can bolster the economy, improve productivity, and reduce the costly burden of illness. 51ÊÓƵ funding also supports jobs and innovations that advance the biotechnology sector.

Our Stories

The knowledge produced by 51ÊÓƵ-supported research can take many years and pass through many stages on its pathway toward improving health. Explore stories of how 51ÊÓƵ has contributed to successful health interventions, and how these interventions have made a difference in our lives.

Learn More About 51ÊÓƵ

  • Research Matters — weekly update of recent 51ÊÓƵ research highlights
  • — reports, data, and analyses of 51ÊÓƵ research activities
  • 51ÊÓƵ Clinical Trials — overview of 51ÊÓƵ-funded clinical trials and how you can participate
  • Celebration of Science: 51ÊÓƵ Highlights — spotlighting remarkable advances from 51ÊÓƵ-supported scientists
  • 51ÊÓƵ Home Page — learn how 51ÊÓƵ and its 27 institutes and centers work
  • — The Director discusses new discoveries and latest trends in biomedical research and medicine
  • — bimonthly 51ÊÓƵ newsletter that showcases the scientific research conducted at the 51ÊÓƵ
  • — biweekly 51ÊÓƵ newsletter that covers issues of significance to 51ÊÓƵ staff, contractors, and trainees
  • — discover the scientific, legislative, and social history of the National Institutes of Health

51ÊÓƵ Research News