Welcome to The NIH Director’s Blog!
Posted on by Dr. Francis Collins
I’m starting this blog to highlight new discoveries in biology and medicine that I think are game changers, noteworthy, or just plain cool. Depending on what’s going on in the world of biomedical research, I may tell you about an interesting study in a journal, or share my thoughts about a news item or public health issue.
My own research background has involved hunting for disease genes and leading the effort to sequence the human genome. So naturally this blog may gravitate a bit towards genomics and personalized medicine, but I promise you it won’t stop there. I want this blog to cover the amazing range of biomedical research—from a cell biologist developing new insights into the intricacies of signal transduction to a medical doctor investigating new therapies in a clinical research trial.
Sometimes I’ll look at how large, multidisciplinary teams of scientists are enabling us to move research forward at a pace unimaginable just a few decades ago. On other occasions, I’ll show you how a single brilliant investigator, perhaps working in a field that seemed obscure to most, has hit upon a finding that substantially expands our understanding of life and health. Also, as I come across cool scientific images or fascinating facts about biology or health, I plan to share them with you, right here on this blog.
I hope you get a charge out of this! I look forward to hearing from you, and from everyone who is excited as I am about the future of biomedical research.
Francis S. Collins
Director, National Institutes of Health
