NIAMS National Institute of Arthritis and

Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

About Our Strategic Plan

NIAMS MISSION

The NIAMS mission is to support research into 

the causes, treatment, and prevention of arthritis 

and musculoskeletal and skin diseases; training 

of basic and clinical scientists to carry out this 

research; and dissemination of information on 

research progress in these diseases.

STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL

The goal of the plan is to advance and 

accelerate research into the causes, treatment, 

and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal 

and skin diseases. The ultimate goal of these 

efforts is to develop patient-centered, 

personalized ways to improve outcomes and 

thereby “turn discovery into health.”

CROSS-CUTTING THEMES 

AND RESEARCH AREAS 

Many scientific challenges and opportunities 

within the NIAMS mission are not unique to 

any one field, disease, or scientific or clinical 

discipline. Rather, they transcend disease- and 

tissue-specific boundaries, have broad impact 

across many diseases and conditions, and can 

therefore serve as a framework to organize 

science across the assorted fields within the 

Institute’s purview. In addition to four crosscutting themes, the Institute’s research portfolio 

includes five core areas: Systemic Rheumatic 

and Autoimmune Diseases; Skin Biology and 

Diseases; Bone Biology and Diseases; 

Muscle Biology and Diseases; and Joint Biology, 

Diseases, and Orthopaedics.

NIAMS 

MISSION 

Shared mechanisms

in health and 

among diseases 

Patient-centric 

approaches 

to health and 

disease

Health and 

disease 

in diverse 

populations

Precision medicine 

for arthritis and 

musculoskeletal 

and skin diseases 
SKIN BIOLOGY AND DISEASES 

RESEARCH

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

• TRANSDISCIPLINARY BASIC STUDIES

• SKIN AS A BARRIER

• SKIN AS AN IMMUNE, SENSORY,

AND ENDOCRINE ORGAN

• SKIN APPENDAGES

• GENETICS OF SKIN DISEASES

• REGENERATIVE MEDICINE

• SKIN MODEL SYSTEMS

• THERAPY DEVELOPMENT

• CLINICAL RESEARCH

• BEHAVIORAL AND

BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL RESEARCH

PROGRAM SUMMARY

NIAMS Skin Biology and Diseases programs fund basic, 

translational, and clinical research in skin, including both common 

and rare skin diseases. These programs include investigations of 

the basic molecular, cellular, and developmental biology of skin, 

as well as studies of skin as an immune, sensory, endocrine, 

and metabolic organ. Research on wound healing, autoimmunity, 

inflammation, heritable diseases, and birth defects is also 

included, with a focus on translating fundamental research findings 

into novel diagnostic tools, effective therapeutics, and efficient 

cost-saving disease management. Understanding skin biology 

in the context of whole-body physiology is a new horizon. Skin 

is an integral part of the human body, and skin function and 

skin diseases are influenced by internal and external environments. 

Increasing evidence suggests that skin homeostasis is modulated 

by the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems, as well as by 

circadian rhythms and resident microbial flora. Studying 

interactions between skin and other organs is increasingly 

important for advancing knowledge of skin health and disease 

and thus calls for multidisciplinary collaborations to invigorate 

and enrich the skin research field

• Epidermis, Dermis and Skin Senses Program

• Skin Immunology and Diseases, Skin Microbiome Program

• Skin Repair, Pigmentation and Appendages, Vasculature/

Lymphatic Systems Program

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT

Understanding Co-occurring Conditions in Psoriasis

Certain chronic diseases seem to occur together, and caring for 

patients with multiple health issues is challenging. For example, 

psoriasis is associated with an increased risk of developing 

conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, 

and psoriatic arthritis. NIAMS supports a varied portfolio of 

research on co-occurring conditions, including a translational 

research center using new technologies and clinical and laboratory 

data to predict which psoriasis patients are most likely to develop 

comorbidities and how best to treat them.

For More information

Read the full NIAMS Strategic Plan: 

https://www.niams.nih.gov/about-niams/

strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024

NIAMS Website: www.niams.nih.gov

Contact NIAMS: NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov