How NIH Brings Health and Science to the Public

NIH communicates science and health to patients, families, scientists, industry, teachers and students, health professionals, and the press. As a public agency, NIH is committed to ensuring that accurate information reaches the diverse American public.

Where can I find NIH resources on science and health?

• NIH Health Information has health tips, podcasts, and fact sheets on diseases and many science/health topics.
• Research Matters puts breaking science in context, in an understandable format.
• The NIH News in Health free monthly newsletter gives practical health information.
• The NIH YouTube channel hosts videos and interviews about health and science.
• The NIH Twitter Feed, @NIH, provides news releases and special announcements in 140 characters or less.
• Find out what's happening at the National Institutes of Health through the NIH Facebook Page.
• Access free research articles and consumer health information through NIH’s National Library of Medicine, the world's largest medical library.
• Subscribe to NIH newsletters, page updates, bulletins, and RSS feeds.
• NIH's 27 Institutes and Centers produce easy-to-understand educational materials about health and science, and many of these resources are available in Spanish and other languages.

Does NIH provide health advice for patients with specific diseases?

No, the NIH web site does not offer personalized medical advice to individuals about their condition or treatment and urges online visitors to work with medical care providers for answers to personal health questions. Visit the FDA web site for answers to questions about specific foods, prescriptions, or over-the-counter medicines.

I am a student. Can I do research at NIH?

Yes, NIH sponsors summer internships for high school and college students, and various other programs for graduate and medical students.

How does NIH interact with students and teachers?

The free NIH Curriculum Supplement Series is a set of K–12 interactive teaching units that combine cutting-edge NIH research discoveries with state-of-the-art instructional materials. These 2-week lesson plans on science and health are aligned with state and national science education standards and incorporate real scientific data.

How does NIH interact with the press?

NIH works directly with the press every day, answering questions about health, the latest scientific findings, and science policy issues. Some reporters work regularly with science and/or health information and are constantly looking for new stories with health implications. Other reporters do not have a science background, and NIH works hard to give them accurate and understandable explanations of complex science and health information.

What about scientists — should they talk to the press?

Yes, it is important for medical scientists to convey to the public the meaning and implications of taxpayer-funded research. NIH works regularly with a community of scientists who are extremely engaged in this process and who want to share their knowledge of science and health with the public. While some researchers are better at talking directly with the press or with the public, others help in different ways, by developing health resources, participating in meetings, or in reviewing materials for accuracy.

How can reporters learn more about science and medicine at NIH?

With the public's increasing appetite for health news and information, it is more important than ever that journalists covering health and medical science have the skills to critically evaluate and translate research reports into meaningful messages for the public.

• Keep track of developments in science, personnel, and policy at NIH by subscribing to the online version of the NIH Record.

How can I find NIH-sponsored educational programs across the U.S.?

NIH's Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) program, which brings together researchers, educators, community groups, and other interested organizations in partnerships to create K–12 educational materials.