The NIH Director

At NIH, we are dedicated to improving the health of Americans by conducting and funding medical research.

We also train scientists, and communicate medical and health sciences information to patients, their families, health care providers and the general public.

NIH guides America's efforts in medical research. Our goal is to uncover new knowledge that will help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability, from the common cold to the rarest genetic disorder.

Our investment in understanding such diseases as AIDS, diabetes, heart disease and cancer returns dividends in longer, healthier, and safer lives.

We continue to make major inroads in fighting humanity's most enduring illnesses. And we are working to confront new threats to our health and safety, like bioterrorism.

We encourage you to explore the wealth of medical research on the NIH Web site and to learn more about our world-class research, scientists, and programs.

Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., was officially sworn in on Monday, August 17, 2009 as the 16th director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Collins was nominated by President Barack Obama on July 8, and was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 7. Read the full bio sketch.

• Learn more about Leadership and the Role of Director at the National Institutes of Health.

• Testimony from the Acting Director, Raynard S. Kington, M.D., Ph.D. on The Role of Biomedical Research in the Economic Stimulus, November 13, 2008
  (http://www.nih.gov/about/director/11132008statement_econstim.htm)
• Implementation of ARRA Witness appearing before the House Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations, March 26, 2009
  (http://appropriations.house.gov/Witness_testimony/LHHS/
  Raynard_Kington_03_26_09.pdf)