NIH is the leading supporter of biomedical research in the world. This research has had a major positive impact on nearly all of our lives by improving human health, fueling the U.S. economy, and creating jobs in our communities.

Examples of impact include:

In the last 25 years, the proportion of older people with chronic disabilities has dropped by nearly one-third.

U.S. cancer death rates are now falling about 1% each year, with each 1% decline saving our nation about $500 billion.

The U.S. government’s $4 billion investment in the Human Genome Project spurred an estimated $796 billion in economic growth from 2000-2010—a 141-fold return on investment, after adjusting for inflation.

NIH funds research in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In 2011, this research supported hundreds of thousands of jobs at more than 2,500 universities, hospitals, non-profit research institutions, and small businesses in our communities.

See Impact of NIH Research for more in-depth review of outcomes of NIH-funded research.