The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research. It is part of the Department of Health and Human Services and is made up of 27 different institutes and centers, each with its own specific research agenda. The NIH conducts and supports research in a wide range of areas, including cancer, infectious diseases, mental health, and aging. Its mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and to apply that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.
