Health

Justin Zook in a lab surrounded by genetic sequencing machines

Genome in a Bottle: Spelling Out DNA’s ‘Dark’ Sequences (blog post)

Researcher Erica Stein pipetting under chemical hood

Down for the Count: How NIST Is Helping Defeat Cancer (blog post)

Carolyn Burdette, Laura Regalado and Katrice Lippa having an animated discussion in the lab. Behind them is a computer screen and other laboratory equipment, including a liquid chromatography mass spectrometer.

Linking the World Through Chemical Measurements (blog post)

News and Updates

A red cylinder made of lipids has five protruding multicolored proteins.

NIST Clarifies Structure of Prospective Vaccine for Respiratory Virus

December 16, 2020

No approved vaccine exists for RSV, a life-threatening virus that attacks the respiratory system. State-of-the-art neutron and X-ray scattering performed at the

Plot graph shows dark purple block at left with areas growing lighter green to the right.

Nanocylinder Vibrations Help Quantify Polymer Curing for 3D Printing

December 10, 2020

In a step toward making more accurate and uniform 3D-printed parts such as personalized prosthetics and dental materials, researchers at the National Institute

New Airflow Videos Show Why Masks With Exhalation Valves Do Not Slow the Spread of COVID-19

November 10, 2020

Many people wear masks in public to slow the spread of COVID-19, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, masks with

A medical worker administers a nasal swab test to a person in a car.

NIST Innovation Could Improve Detection of COVID-19 Infections

October 5, 2020

A multidisciplinary research team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a way to increase the sensitivity of the primary

Industry Impacts

illustration of an oncolytic virus particle

Cancer Therapy Formulations

New cancer therapies that use active viruses cannot always be studied using standard drug development practices. The NIST Center for Neutron Research user

Brain Mapping Technologies

Magnetic signals produced by electrical currents in the brain can be used to map brain processes and help in the diagnosis and treatment of disease

vertical columns of lines in bright colors

Accuracy of Genetic Testing Technologies

To evaluate the accuracy of emerging fast and affordable genetic testing technologies that will enable medical treatments tailored to individual patients

Breast Cancer Imaging

When a patient goes to a doctor’s office, hospital or clinic to get an MRI scan, he or she trusts that the medical imaging technologies are working properly

Projects and Programs

Genome in a Bottle

Consortium hosted by NIST and JIMB dedicated to authoritative characterization of benchmark human genomes. Sign up for General GIAB and Analysis Team email

Measurement Science of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards & Technology are creating reference materials and data resources to address the per- and polyfluoroalkyl

ERCC 2.0: Developing a New Suite of RNA Controls

In July 2014, ERCC members initiated the ERCC 2.0 effort to develop an updated suite of RNA controls that will keep pace with advances in RNA measurement

NIST PS1 Primary Standard for quantitative NMR (Benzoic Acid)

The "first-of-its-kind" in an entirely new class of reference material, NIST PS1 Primary Standard for quantitative NMR (Benzoic Acid) is now available! The PS