NIH 1998 Almanac/The Organization/NINR/
National Institute of Nursing Research: Mission
The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) supports basic and clinical research
to establish a scientific basis for the care of individuals across the life span—from
management of patients during illness and recovery to the reduction of risks for disease
and disability and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. According to its broad mandate,
the NINR implements programs of research to understand and ease the symptoms of acute and
chronic illness, to prevent or delay the onset of disease or slow its progression, to find
effective approaches to achieving and sustaining good health, and to improve the clinical
settings in which care is provided. This research extends to problems encountered by
patients’ families and caregivers. It also emphasizes the special needs of at-risk
and underserved populations. These efforts are crucial in translating scientific advances
into cost-effective health care that does not compromise quality.
NINR programs are conducted primarily through grants to investigators across the
country. The NINR intramural program revitalized in 1997 with an initial focus on factors
that contribute to wound healing.
NINR fosters collaborations with many other disciplines in areas of mutual interest
such as long-term care for older people, the special needs of women across the life span,
bioethical issues associated with genetic testing and counseling, biobehavioral aspects of
the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, and the impact of environmental
influences on risk factors for chronic illnesses.
