Statutory Authority and Mission
The Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-158) authorized the establishment of NIAMS, which was formally established in 1986. The mission of NIAMS 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.
In accordance with the 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law 114-255), enacted in 2016, the NIAMS Director consults with the Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) and the Director of the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) regarding NIAMS objectives to ensure its activities consider the health needs of women and minorities and are focused on reducing health disparities. NIAMS works closely with NIMHD and ORWH, and NIAMS staff are active participants in standing and ad hoc committees related to NIH priorities for women’s health, minority health, and health disparities. These relationships enable NIAMS to align its work in these areas with broader NIH efforts and to leverage and synergize with related activities across NIH.
Vision
The purpose of this Plan is to foster an adaptable research environment that enables scientists to leverage opportunities available using today’s knowledge and technologies while stimulating research in new, transformative areas as they arise. The ultimate end is to allow all people to live longer and healthier lives.
The four goals focus on advancing therapy development for everyone by supporting research and the needed resources, infrastructure, and workforce, and on communicating the results of these efforts to patients, communities, and scientists. Their emphasis on human biology and models and patient-oriented research is not meant to exclude the promise and potential of discoveries from the most basic, fundamental studies. Progress in all these areas is needed to urgently bring about the vision of a world where everyone has access to innovative, proactive, personalized interventions to prevent arthritis and diseases of the musculoskeletal system and skin, as well as injuries to the bones, joints, muscles, and skin1, and to treat such conditions should they occur. Therefore, these goals underscore the importance of translating scientific discoveries into strategies that allow all people to live long and healthy lives while maintaining a commitment to fundamental research.
The research priorities outlined here encapsulate the full range of science from basic laboratory studies to public health research to encourage investigators to move their discoveries into communities where all can benefit regardless of income, age, sex, race, ethnicity, geographic location, or disability status. The capacity-building priorities describe activities needed to create a research environment filled with sufficient resources, including human talent, necessary to produce those discoveries and interventions. Lastly, inclusion of NIAMS’ operational priority of information dissemination and engagement further demonstrates the importance of communicating discoveries to those who can implement them in their own scientific careers, their patient care efforts, or their local communities.
1For brevity, “joints” or “joint tissue” includes tendons, ligaments, entheses, cartilage, menisci, intervertebral disc components, and synovium; and the institute’s interest in “arthritis” refers to a variety of rheumatic diseases and autoinflammatory diseases and conditions and may or may not address arthritic joint tissue pathology.