Its mission is to protect and improve human health by uncovering new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone. By federal legislation, the NIH is composed of 24 Institutes and Centers. Each IC pursues its mission by conducting research at the NIH through an intramural program and by sponsoring research at universities through an extramural program.
Funding is provided for basic, applied and clinical biomedical research and training.
The OCGA's goal is to facilitate proposal submission, award negotiation, and research administration, and assist with patent processing and technology transfer. Further, the Office develops, reviews and implements policies concerning research. The OCGA staff is working to create an organizational environment characterized by flexibility, innovation, cutting-edge technology, cooperation with research partners and responsiveness to faculty. There is also a link to hints for writing successful grants. Competing applications are proposals submitted requesting support for up to five years which will go through a review cycle.