On Updating NIH’s Mission Statement

Topic 1

The NIH-wide strategic plan currently in place outlines three broad objectives: advancing research; building and maintaining research capacity; and exemplifying the highest level of scientific integrity and public accountability in the conduct of science. All three of these objectives align with the proposed revised mission statement.

Seeking fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living things, and applying that knowledge to optimize health, requires support for research across the continuum from basic to translational to clinical. By undertaking a broad portfolio of research across disciplines and supporting the training of the next generation of scientists, NIH invests in generating the fundamental knowledge that is necessary to advance biomedical science and ultimately improve the health of all people. For the results of research to be effectively applied to optimize health and prevent or reduce illness in all people, those results must be generated with rigor and reliably reported. The third objective in the current strategic plan addresses this need by calling for the highest level of scientific integrity, public accountability, and social responsibility in the conduct of science.

The American Physiological Society (APS) has a mission “to advance scientific discovery, understand life, and improve health.” As a global and multi-disciplinary community of scientists, many of whom are supported throughout their careers by the NIH, APS supports the language in the proposed revised mission statement and appreciates the opportunity to provide input.

Topic 2

APS recommends that NIH consider including the phrase “…improve the quality of life…” after “…optimize health…” in the proposed mission statement. An important aspect of medicine is to alleviate suffering due to illness or disease. Modern medicine has developed many treatments that turned previously lethal health threats into chronic conditions that are managed over the long term. This addition would expand the NIH mission to include research into ways to help individuals with health challenges live healthier lives.

Topic 3

The NIH Advisory Committee to the Director’s Working Group on Diversity, Subgroup on Individuals with Disabilities made several actionable recommendations in its December 2022 report, and APS is encouraged to see NIH moving forward with implementation.  Revision of the NIH mission statement to remove language calling for reducing disability is an important and visible step toward addressing the systemic barriers that exist for persons with disabilities. APS acknowledges that NIH has also recently taken steps to implement additional recommendations from the same report by formally designating people living with disabilities as a health disparity population and issuing a funding opportunity for research on health and health care disparities among persons living with disabilities. APS urges NIH to continue to pursue implementation of the report’s recommendations, including those aimed at eliminating barriers to full participation in the scientific workforce for persons with disabilities.