National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, or NIAMS, is an institute of the National Institutes of Health, an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. NIAMS leads the Federal effort on research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases, the training of basic and clinical scientists to carry out this research, and the dissemination of information on research progress to improve public health. NIAMS supports and conducts basic, clinical, and epidemiologic research and research training at universities and medical centers throughout the nation.^[1]

Mission

The mission of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases is to support research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases, the training of basic and clinical scientists to carry out this research, and the dissemination of information on research progress in these diseases.^[2]

Intramural Research Program (IRP)

The NIAMS Intramural Research Program conducts clinical and laboratory research related to arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases. It also conducts basic research in biochemistry, immunology, pathology, histochemistry, chemistry, molecular biology, structural biology, and pharmacology.^[3] The intramural researchers at NIAMS are dedicated to training a new generation of scientists to develop new knowledge aimed at solving the health problems within our research mandate. NIAMS actively seeks candidates at all stages in their careers who want to learn the latest advances in basic and clinical research. Located at the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD, intramural scientists can make full use of the special, if not unique, opportunities afforded by the NIH. Among these are the extensive human resources that facilitate collaboration among experts who possess widely different skills; the resources to perform clinical research that is closely integrated with laboratory work; and relatively stable funding which permits investments in long-term, and even risky, projects.^[4]

The Scientific Director John O'Shea serves as the principal advisor to the Director of the NIAMS concerning all ongoing and projected intramural research programs of the NIAMS and is responsible for the development of broad decisions concerning program planning, budget and policy formulation, and resource allocation of the intramural program. The Scientific Director represents the NIAMS in discussions of NIH-wide intramural policies and programs, and serves as a vital member of the senior staff of the Institute.^[5]

Senior Investigators

• Dr. Paul Plotz
• Dr. Rocky Tuan
• Dr. Maria Morasso
• Dr. Vittorio Sartorelli
• Dr. Alasdair Steven
• Dr. Paul Wingfield
• Dr. Robert Horowits
• Dr. Leepo Yu
• Dr. Stephen Stahl
• Dr. Juan Rivera
• Dr. Michael Ward
• Dr. Robert Colbert

References

1. ^ http://www.niams.nih.gov/
2. ^ http://www.niams.nih.gov/Research/Ongoing_Research/mission.asp
3. ^ http://www.niams.nih.gov/research/Ongoing_Research/default.asp
4. ^ http://www.niams.nih.gov/Research/Ongoing_Research/Branch_Lab/Science_and_Technology/Career_Development/training_opportunities.asp
5. ^ http://www.niams.nih.gov/Research/Ongoing_Research/Branch_Lab/Scientific_Director/default.asp

External links

• NIAMS OFFICIAL WEBSITE