Does HHS sponsor or conduct research?

Answer:

Health research is a primary part of more than 300 HHS programs. Two HHS agencies have major roles in conducting health and health care research while others provide support, participation, data/evidence collection, etc.:

National Institutes of Health (NIH), an agency within HHS, is the world's premier medical research organization, supporting over 38,000 research projects nationwide in diseases including cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes, arthritis, heart ailments and AIDS. Includes 27 separate health institutes and centers.

Learn More:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) supports research on health care systems, health care quality and cost issues, access to health care, and effectiveness of medical treatments. It provides evidence-based information on health care outcomes and quality of care.

Learn More:

Other HHS Agencies provide funding for additional research efforts:

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assures the safety of foods and cosmetics, and the safety and efficacy of pharmaceuticals, biological products, and medical devices -- products which represent almost 25 cents out of every dollar in U.S. consumer spending.

Learn More:

FDA Science Resources, Research Activities, Research Partnerships, and Publications

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-- Working with states and other partners, CDC provides a system of health surveillance to monitor and prevent disease outbreaks (including bioterrorism), implement disease prevention strategies, and maintain national health statistics. Provides for immunization services, workplace safety, and environmental disease prevention. CDC also guards against international disease transmission, with personnel stationed in more than 25 foreign countries.

Learn More:

Indian Health Service (IHS) -- Working with tribes, the IHS provides health services to 1.6 million American Indians and Alaska Natives of more than 550 federally recognized tribes. The Indian health system includes 49 hospitals, 247 health centers, 348 health stations, satellite clinics, residential substance abuse treatment centers, Alaska Native village clinics and 34 urban Indian health programs.

Learn More:

Indian Health Service Research Program

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administers the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which provide health care to about one in every four Americans. Medicare provides health insurance for more than 42.1 million elderly and disabled Americans. Medicaid, a joint federal-state program, provides health coverage for some 44.7 million low-income persons, including 21.9 million children, and nursing home coverage for low-income elderly. CMS also administers the State Children's Health Insurance Program that covers more than 4.2 million children.

Learn More:

CMS Research, Statistics, Data, & Systems

Social science research activities also are conducted or supported by HHS agencies:

Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is responsible for some 60 programs that promote the economic and social well-being of children, families and communities.

Learn More:

Children and family programs research projects

Administration on Aging (AoA) supports a nationwide aging network, providing services to the elderly, especially to enable them to remain independent. AoA supports some 240 million meals for the elderly each year, including home-delivered "meals on wheels." It helps provide transportation and at-home services; supports ombudsman services for elderly; and provides policy leadership on aging issues.

Learn More:

Last Updated: 08/04/2008