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Mission

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) supports basic research that increases understanding of biological processes and lays the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention. NIGMS-funded scientists investigate how living systems work at a range of levels, from molecules and cells to tissues, whole organisms and populations. The Institute also supports research in certain clinical areas, primarily those that affect multiple organ systems.

Interest in Diversity

To ensure the vitality and continued productivity of the research enterprise, NIGMS provides leadership in the areas of: (a) training the next generation of scientists in basic and general biological and biomedical sciences, (b) enhancing the diversity of the scientific workforce, and (c) developing research capacities throughout the country. To accomplish these objectives, NIGMS supports a variety of capacity building and training programs with the ultimate goal of developing a diverse pool of well-trained scientists available to address the Nation’s biomedical research needs.

 

Diversity-Targeted Programs

Please see our training website and research capacity building websites for additional details. Selected diversity-targeted programs are described below.

High School

Undergraduate and Predoctoral Training

Postdoctoral Training

Research Capacity Building Initiatives

Other Diversity Enhancing Initiatives

Director's Statement
Jon R. Lorsch, Ph.D.
Jon R. Lorsch, Ph.D.
Director's Statement
NIGMS seeks to increase the number of individuals from groups underrepresented in the biomedical workforce by providing training opportunities during multiple career stages at varied institutions and educational settings across the country. By increasing the number of students from underrepresented groups pursuing advanced training in the biomedical sciences, NIGMS strives to ensure that the future generation of researchers draws from the entire pool of talented individuals, who bring different talents, perspectives, creativity, and experiences to address complex scientific problems. Training and retaining a diverse workforce ensures that the nation remains a competitive global leader in discovery and innovation in biomedical research.