The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest biomedical research facility in the world. Comprised of 27 different Institutes and Centers, each with a specific research agenda, the NIH offers a diverse array of opportunities for scholars pursuing a career in biomedical research.
NIH Intramural Research Program
Scholars accepted to the NIH MD/PhD Partnership Training Program have the opportunity to join a community of about 500 graduate students and select a mentor from amongst 1,200 principal investigators in the NIH Intramural Research Program. The Intramural Research Program (IRP) is the internal research program of the NIH, known for its synergistic approach to biomedical science. To learn more, visit the NIH IRP website.
NIH Clinical Center
Most of these students and researchers are located on the NIH main campus in Bethesda, Maryland, which is also home to the NIH Clinical Research Center, the largest hospital in the world that is entirely dedicated to clinical research. Through clinical research, clinician-investigators translate laboratory discoveries into better treatments, therapies and interventions to improve the nation's health. The NIH Clinical Research Center provides MD/PhD students a chance to maintain and enhance their clinical skills while completing the PhD portion of their dual-degree training. Scholars have access to courses, regular and special seminars, Clinical Grand Rounds, and other events intended for physician-scientists. For more information, visit the NIH Clinical Center website.
