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The ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Health Information page provides access to Institute and Center resources based on scientific investigation.

The National Institutes of Health (ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø) has no official role in policing the quality of health information found on the Internet. Nevertheless, we can offer some advice.

• Web information should not be used as an alternative to seeking professional medical help. Don't use the information you find to make a self-diagnosis.
• Don't use information found on the Web for self-treatment, especially in cases of serious illness.
• Use the information you find to become an informed patient. Discuss what you have learned with your medical care providers.
• When reviewing information you have uncovered, look for dates — how old is the information?
• Be a critical consumer, ask questions: Has this document been updated? Is there a point-of-contact for the information? Are there any references? Has the information been peer reviewed (critically examined by credentialed professionals)?
• Remember that the distinction between a paid ad and public service announcements may not be obvious on the Web.
• Federal, State and even local government often provide health information. Look at the domain name of the site you have found — sites ending in GOV and ORG generally reflect Federal or State sources or non profit organizations.
• Be particularly cautious when you see claims that a product: cures a wide range of ills, promises a quick fix, or seems too good to be true.

As a public agency, ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø is committed to ensuring that accurate information reaches the diverse American public. How ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Brings Health and Science to the Public explains how ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø communicates science and health information to patients, families, scientists, industry, teachers and students, health professionals, and the press.

The ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Web site does not offer personalized medical advice to individuals about their condition or treatment. The resources on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care and we urge you to work with your medical care providers for answers to your personal health questions.

If you have a medical question, please visit the Health Information on the ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Web site. You should also visit

If you have questions that relate to specific foods, or prescription, or over-the-counter drugs, you should visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) .

ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø is a medical research organization. As such, we only enroll patients who are participating in one of our clinical studies. These trials span a wide range of diseases and conditions. For information about .

No. However, please visit for information on choosing quality care.

ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø's National Library of Medicine provides a guide to over 9,000 prescription and over-the-counter medications on its . For the latest information on drug approvals and safety warnings, consult the (FDA) Web site. For information about drug abuse and addiction, visit the (NIDA).

You can visit ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Clinical Research Trials and You to learn about clinical trial basics, read volunteer and researcher stories, find ways to connect with clinical trials, and locate other educational resources for the public and health care providers.

The NCCAM conducts and supports basic and applied research and training and disseminates information on complementary and alternative medicine to practitioners and the public.

The mission of National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is to define, through rigorous scientific investigation, the usefulness and safety of complementary and integrative health interventions and their roles in improving health and health care.

The ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Clinical Center provides an opportunity for to participate in medical research studies (sometimes called protocols or trials). Healthy volunteers provide researchers with important information for comparison with people who have specific illnesses. Every year, nearly 3,500 healthy volunteers participate in studies at ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø. Visit the Clinical Research Volunteer Program to learn about the benefits of volunteering.

Some ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Institutes have established special on-line areas to provide statistical information. Visit the following links for information on: cancer, complementary and alternative medicine, deafness and communication disorders, dental health, diabetes, digestive diseases, kidney and urologic diseases, obesity, drug abuse, eye disease, and mental health.

Statistics Information from CDC:

— provided by the National Library of Medicine

You can find information about ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø's bio-defense efforts at the . For general information about emergency preparedness, we recommend , which is operated by our partner agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Information regarding funding opportunities from ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø may be found on the .This page provides information about ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø grant and fellowship programs, policy changes, administrative responsibilities of awardees. Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools provided access to reports, data, and analyses of .

Visit our page. This site brings together information about the intramural and extramural training opportunities offered by all of ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø's Institutes and Centers.

ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø LRPs are a vital component of our nation's efforts to attract health professionals to careers in clinical, pediatric, health disparity, or contraceptive and infertility research. Visit for all the details and to complete an online application for ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Loan Repayment benefits.

Check out ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø's estimates of funding for various research, condition and disease .

You can read about ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø's research, condition and disease .

You can read about the latest research advances on the News and Events page. A list of selected research highlights from the previous year is available. A historical list of these research highlights is available from the

The lists ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø-sponsored meetings and other meetings of interest to both employees and the general public. It is updated daily and the listed meetings are free and open to the public.

is a public domain image processing and analysis program for the Macintosh. It was developed at the Research Services Branch (RSB) of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health (ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø).

The HHS promotes integrity in biomedical and behavioral research supported by the U. S. Public Health Service (PHS) at about 4,000 institutions worldwide. ORI monitors institutional investigations of research misconduct and facilitates the responsible conduct of research through educational, preventive, and regulatory activities.

Visit the page.

Founded in 1887, the National Institutes of Health today is one of the world's foremost medical research centers, and the Federal focal point for medical research in the United States. The ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø, comprising 27 separate Institutes and Centers, is one of eight health agencies of the Public Health Service which, in turn, is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Simply described, the goal of ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø research is to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability, from the rarest genetic disorder to the common cold. The ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø mission is to uncover new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone. ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø works toward that mission by: conducting research in its own laboratories; supporting the research of non-Federal scientists in universities, medical schools, hospitals, and research institutions throughout the country and abroad; helping in the training of research investigators; and fostering communication of medical and health sciences information.

Follow this link for a list of for each ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Institute or Center.

The main campus of the National Institutes of Health (ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø) is located in Bethesda, Maryland. Our main mailing address is:

National Institutes of Health
Building 1
1 Center Drive
Bethesda, Maryland 20892

Information about how to get to ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø.

ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø scientists conduct their research in laboratories located on the main campus in Bethesda, and in several field units across the country and abroad. The ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø also has facilities in the Rockville, Maryland area and the at Fort Detrick in Frederick, MD. The main facility is located in Research Triangle Park (RTP) in North Carolina.

Other laboratory facilities include the ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Animal Center in Poolesville, MD; the National Institute on Aging's Gerontology Research Center in Baltimore, MD; the , also in Baltimore; the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, MT, and several smaller field stations.

Maps, driving directions and links to popular campus locations are located on our Visitor page. Information about entering campus and its buildings, parking, using campus transportation and current security measures. To find out if ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø is open, see .

Our mailing address is:

National Institutes of Health
Building 1
1 Center Drive
Bethesda, Maryland 20892

Toll-free Health Info lines may be found at /health-information/health-info-lines. The main number for ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø is 301-496-4000.

The ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø email and phone directory for .

Mailing address:
Director, ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø
9000 Rockville Pike
MSC 0148
Bethesda, Maryland 20892

E-mail: execsec1@od.nih.gov
Web site: http://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director

Links to Congressional Testimonies about the ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø budget are available. More information about the ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø budget can be found on the .

A number of Web pages have been developed to help you do business with ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø. If you are a small business, bookmark the page to take advantage of monthly seminars on "Conducting Business with ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø." Information about contracts and other business opportunities can also be found at the .

Information regarding Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

Our site contains guidelines, policy and instructions on requesting a correction.

Information about employment opportunities at ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø may be found at .

Information about the Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research may be found at .

The ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Web site at www.nih.gov is maintained by the Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL), which is part of the Office of the Director, ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø. Collectively, large segments of ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Web space are owned and operated by each of the 27 Institutes and Centers that comprise ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø.

The purpose of the ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Web site is to support the mission of our agency. ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø conducts scientific investigation in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems. ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø applies that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability. As part of our mission we direct programs for the collection, dissemination, and exchange of information in medicine and health, including the development and support of medical libraries and the training of medical librarians and other health information specialists. The ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Web site serves the public by offering ready access to:

• Clinical studies;
• Health and wellness information;
• Information on obtaining research funding;
• Research resources and library resources;
• News, events, and educational activities related to ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø and its mission;
• Scientific program, policy, and planning documents;
• General information about the agency, its history, organizational structure, staff, and facilities.

For more information about the ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Web site, contact the
OD OCPL Digital Communications Branch
Phone: 301-435-2932
E-mail: olib@mail.nih.gov

Yes, ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø does have a privacy notice, it can be found at /web-policies-notices.

The ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Web site is not just one site but a large collection of sites — over 150 servers. Some areas are updated daily while others may not be updated for weeks or months.

Most of the information on our site is in the public domain and can be used without charge or restriction.

There are a few exceptions. For example, some resources, such as the Interactive Health Tutorials found on ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø's National Library of Medicine Website, as well as images on the ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Web site have been licensed by a third party and are restricted in their use. Generally, copyrighted materials will include a copyright statement. If in doubt, please write to the contact point for that site.

In addition, the word mark ±·±õ±á…Turning Discovery Into Health^® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Another item restricted in its use is the ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø logo. The ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø logo is designed to signify official ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø products, activities, events, representatives, and facilities. It should never be used to promote or suggest endorsement of non-ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø products, events, or services. It should never be used by outside parties to misrepresent the purpose, character, policies, or mission of our agency.

Also, some materials that can be ordered from our site are subject to cost-recovery fee; however, in most cases, a single copy of any ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø publication can be ordered for free.

While you can reuse content found on our site, please note that many of our on-line health publications are continually updated as we learn more about that specific disease or condition. Occasionally, sites that copy and re-post our materials fail to check for updates, which results in out-of-date information being offered to users. For that reason, we urge you to link to our resource documents rather than re-posting. If you do re-post, please check back periodically to see if there are revisions.

The ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø logo is designed to signify official ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø products, activities, events, representatives, and facilities. It should never be used to promote or suggest endorsement of non-ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø products, events, or services. It should never be used by outside parties to misrepresent the purpose, character, policies, or mission of our agency. For more information about the ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø logo, contact logo@nih.gov.

Unless noted otherwise, it is safe to assume that information posted on public Web sites within the "ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø.GOV" domain are considered to be "in the public domain." As such, you are free to establish links to ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø on-line resources. In establishing such links, we do ask that you avoid creating the impression that ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø is endorsing or promoting any particular product or service.

As a Federal agency, ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø cannot endorse or promote commercial or individual interests or services. This includes adding links and logos from non-ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø entities. In some cases, where the information serves the public good and is consistent with our mission, we may include an outside link to an external resource; however, these need to be examined on a case-by-case basis. In general, the web developer of each particular site determines when links to outside entities are justified.

Please visit our Image Gallery.

A list of Selected ÈýÒÚÌåÓý¹ÙÍø Education and Awareness Campaigns is available at /about-nih/selected-nih-education-awareness-campaigns.