Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have discovered that the presence of a benign nail abnormality may lead to the diagnosis of a rare inherited disorder that increases the risk of developing cancerous tumors of the skin, eyes, kidneys and the tissue that lines the chest and abdomen (e.g., the mesothelium).

NIH researchers reveal new insights about the relationship between hair and hair follicles and the skin’s immune system.

Dear Colleagues, When I last reached out back in April, we were all just beginning to navigate the unpredictable situation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since that time, you have all demonstrated great patience, strong resolve, and a tremendous amount of adaptability. NIH understands that the pandemic continues to upend lives and livelihoods, including those of its grantees and their institutions. To help you move through these uncertain times, the agency has provided the grantee community with a number of COVID-19 flexibilities. The agency will continue to monitor the situation and will post guide notices and updated FAQs on

Since joining NIAMS in 2021, I have been struck by how much our mission is driven by meaningful interactions with patient advocacy and other community groups interested in research related to bones, joints, muscles, and skin.

Understanding and treating joint pain is important to improving long-term health—and a fundamental part of the NIAMS mission. With that imperative in mind, I’m delighted that NIAMS is supporting a new Consortium that may lead us closer to ultimately being able to restore joint health. The Restoring Joint Health and Function to Reduce Pain (RE-JOIN) Consortium is part of the Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative®, an aggressive, trans-NIH effort to speed scientific solutions to stem the national opioid public health crisis.

NIH scientists led an international team of researchers toward discovery of a new, adult-onset inflammatory disease abbreviated the VEXAS (vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic) syndrome.