The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American office of the Rhodes Trust (U.K.), have announced a new affiliation that will jointly fund doctoral research and education at Oxford University and at the NIH. This opportunity for students who have been awarded a Rhodes Scholarship has been established in recognition of the need for cutting-edge scientific inquiry and the development of the world's future leaders in biomedical science.

"We are extremely pleased to enter into this new alliance with the Rhodes Trust," said Michael Lenardo, M.D., Director of the NIH/Oxford Program. "Our mission is to train leaders in biomedical research who will conquer disease by pioneering the new scientific disciplines of the future. The opportunity to pursue this goal with the outstanding young men and women awarded Rhodes Scholarships and together with Oxford University is an exciting development."

The goal of this alliance is to strongly encourage current and potential Rhodes Scholars with an academic interest in, and promise for, biomedical science to pursue leadership roles in medical research. In addition, this new association will contribute to the education of all Rhodes Scholars by sponsorship of joint programs to educate these extraordinary students about developments in the life sciences with broad reaching societal impact.

"The Rhodes Scholarships are for outstanding students who will employ their formidable talents to make a difference in the lives of others," said Elliot F. Gerson, who oversees the Rhodes Trust activities in the United States. "There can be no question that the students who will benefit from this new partnership for cutting-edge biomedical research would have pleased Cecil Rhodes, the founder of the Rhodes Scholarships. Mr. Rhodes hoped that his Scholars would 'engage in the world's fight' in the most meaningful way they could. Engaging in research that could lead to cures for mankind's most dreaded diseases certainly qualifies for that fight."

This new program will permit qualifying Rhodes Scholars who wish to pursue an academic focus on biomedical research to complete a doctorate as a student in the NIH-University of Oxford Scholars Program. The NIH will provide stipend and academic fee support to students pursuing a doctorate in the program following the completion of the Rhodes Scholarship component of their studies. The Scholars participating in this program will carry out research in NIH's intramural program with guidance from NIH scientists using the most advanced research technologies and facilities.

The newest class of Rhodes Scholars from the United States was selected Saturday, November 20, 2004. Any bioscientists among the group of 32 winners will be eligible to apply for this new program.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting basic clinical and translational medical research. NIH is comprised of 27 institutes and centers and investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases.