Welcome to the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research
The NIH Roadmap for Medical Research was launched in September, 2004, to address
transform the way biomedical research is conducted by overcoming specific hurdles or f
Roadmap programs span all areas of health and disease research and boundaries of N
are programs that might not otherwise be supported by the NIH ICs because of their sco
risky. More about the NIH Roadmap...
New Pathways to Discovery Research Teams of the Future Re-engin
Enterpris
Building Blocks, Biological Pathways, High-Risk Research
and Networks NIH Director’s Pioneer Award Re-eng
Molecular Libraries and Imaging NIH Director’s New Innovator Initi
Structural Biology Award Clinica
Bioinformatics and Computational Transformative R01 Program Clinica
Biology Interdisciplinary Research Clinica
Nanomedicine Public-Private Partnerships Clinica
Human Microbiome Project (HMP)
Epigenomics Transl
Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx)
This page last reviewed: July 16, 2009
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About the NIH Roadmap
Overview
The NIH Roadmap for Medical Research was launched in September, 2004, to address
research is conducted by overcoming specific hurdles or filling defined knowledge gaps.
research and boundaries of NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs). These are programs that m
scope or because they are inherently risky. Roadmap Programs are expected to have e
biomedical research is conducted. They are also expected to be short term, 5–10 year p
the major roadblocks that were defined for each program to be overcome, thereby stimu
NIH Common Fund
Roadmap programs were initially funded by a 1 percent contribution from each of the NI
develop innovative and cross-cutting programs by authorizing and funding the NIH Com
Fund budget was $498 million in 2008, highlighting its importance in the overall NIH fund
exclusively to support the Roadmap.
Scientific Areas
Planning and implementation of Roadmap/Common Fund programs are highly dynamic
challenges, gaps and advances in biomedicine. Roadmap/Common Fund programs are
representative input from multiple scientific and public sources. Through this process, 12
many initiatives. These 12 challenges have been categorized according to three themes
and Reengineering the Clinical Research Enterprise. Initiatives funded through the Road
and address specific roadblocks or gaps to:
Foster high-risk/high-reward research
Enable the development of transformative tools and methodologies
Fill fundamental knowledge gaps
Change academic culture to foster collaboration
Although the NIH Roadmap is still in its infancy, many of its programs have achieved sig
Research Teams of the Future
The scale and complexity of today's biomedical research problems demand that scientis
organizational models for team science. Advances in molecular imaging, for example, re
physicists, and computer programmers. NIH wants to stimulate new ways of combining
realize the great promise of 21st century medical research.
As part of the Research Teams of the Future theme, the NIH Roadmap seeks to encour
initiatives in the area are: High Risk Research, Interdisciplinary Research, and Public Pr
begin the process of transforming the way scientists do their work and how their work is
High-Risk Research
Leaps in knowledge often result from exceptional minds exploring ideas that were consi
data. The changing face of biomedical research calls for support of aggressive risk-takin
breakthroughs. Much of the NIH's success derives from its reliance on investigator-initia
and advisory council oversight. Additional avenues seem necessary, however, to encou
breadth of the NIH mission. As a first step in that direction, the NIH has established the
scientists.
The NIH Director's Pioneer Award Program
This unique program will support individual scientists who have pioneering ideas and ap
Following announcement of the program in January 2003, NIH reviewed approximately
first nine award recipients were selected to receive $500,000 in direct costs per year for
develop and test far-ranging ideas and make truly groundbreaking discoveries. This awa
Interdisciplinary Research
The study of human biology and behavior is a fascinating and dynamic process. More th
disciplines to speed the pace of scientific discovery. Although research teams have inclu
holds the promise of opening up currently unimagined scientific avenues of inquiry and,
complex questions. Planning for interdisciplinary research requires changes in all aspec
and development of new research methodologies.
The initial fiscal year 2004 awards fund planning grants for interdisciplinary research cen
aimed at integrating behavioral and social science into interdisciplinary research.
Exploratory Centers (P20) for Interdisciplinary Research
Using the P20 (exploratory center) mechanism, planning centers funded in FY2004 will
thinking about and addressing key and complex problems in the biomedical sciences. T
an isolated laboratory or using a multi-disciplinary approach. Initial funding is being prov
centers. This is intended to lay the foundation and prepare investigators to submit a sub
Interdisciplinary Research Consortium.
Interdisciplinary Health Research Training: Behavior, Environment, and Biology
Many of the Nation's most pressing health problems involve disease processes that are
initiative aims to develop a cadre of scientists who can integrate diverse scientific appro
problems. Programs will be established to provide formal coursework and research train
in a different discipline. The overall goal will be to ensure that highly trained scientists w
carry out the Nation's biomedical and behavioral health research agenda.
Training for a New Interdisciplinary Research Workforce
This initiative fosters the development of an interdisciplinary workforce through novel tra
programs will provide a variety of innovative learning and research activities to give stud
solutions to complex biomedical and health problems. The ultimate goal is to develop a
address increasingly complex challenges in health and biomedical research and who wi
Curriculum Development Award in Interdisciplinary Research
Innovative educational approaches are needed to train interdisciplinary scientists in the
the development of programs designed to prepare students from the undergraduate to t
settings and to be future leaders in catalyzing the integration of multiple disciplines. Thro
disciplines will be combined to develop entirely new ways to approach biomedical and b
Short Programs for Interdisciplinary Research Training
Through the development of short, interdisciplinary training programs for scientists at all
knowledge of one or more other disciplines. These programs will include Short Laborato
FY2004 and reissued for FY2005, is designed to promote training in multiple disciplines
novel "interdisciplines."
Supplements for Methodological Innovations in the Behavioral and Social Science
This initiative provides supplements to already-funded NIH research projects to develop
sciences research: research design, data collection, measurement, and data analysis. T
behavioral and social factors on health and facilitate the performance of interdisciplinary
sciences.
Meetings and Networks for Methodological Development in Interdisciplinary Rese
The behavioral and social sciences have broad significance and are fundamental to the
to the promotion of health and well being. This initiative will support, over 1-2 years, a nu
methodologies in the behavioral or social sciences, with the ultimate goal of better integ
interest will be areas of research in human health and well-being that can be significantl
Public-Private Partnerships
As researchers tackle ever more complex biomedical problems, strategic partnerships b
critical to advancing science and communicating research results to improve the quality
partnerships, yet few NIH-supported researchers and potential partners are aware of the
NIH Roadmap will begin with a focus on agency processes and mechanisms to facilitate
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This page last reviewed: January 30, 2008
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Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives •
National Institutes of Health • Bethesda, Maryland 20892