The
NIH Intramural Research Program (
IRP) is the internal research program of the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), known for its synergistic approach to
biomedical science. With 1,200
Principal Investigators and over 4,000
Postdoctoral Fellows conducting basic, translational, and clinical research, the
NIH Intramural Research Program]is the largest biomedical research institution on earth. The unique funding environment of the IRP facilitates opportunities to conduct both long-term and high-impact science that would otherwise be difficult to undertake. With rigorous external reviews ensuring that only the most outstanding research secures funding, the IRP is responsible for many scientific accomplishments, including the discovery of fluoride to prevent tooth decay, the use of lithium to manage
bipolar disorder, and the creation of
vaccines against
hepatitis, Hemophilus influenzae (
HIB), and
human papillomavirus (HPV). In addition, the IRP has also produced or trained 21
Nobel Prize-winning scientists.