Foundation for the National Institutes of Health


The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health is a not-for-profit, 501 charitable organization established by the US Congress in 1990. Located in North Bethesda, MD, the FNIH raises private-sector funds, and creates and manages alliances with public and private institutions in support of the mission of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Research programs

The FNIH collaborates on biomedical research programs to advance breakthrough scientific discoveries. Research partnerships include:

Fundraising

The FNIH's largest donor is the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has donated over $10 million from 2001 to 2020. Other large donors include Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Wellcome Trust, who each have contributed between $5,000,000 and $9,999,999.

COVID-19

The FNIH Pandemic Response Fund was established to provide financial support to COVID-19 pandemic response efforts led by Francis Collins, then-director of the NIH, and Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Education and training programs

The FNIH supports education and training programs by raising funds for fellows and early-career researchers who are working to advance biomedical science. An example of this is the Medical Research Scholars Program, which provides one-year of intensive training for medical, dental and veterinary students on the NIH campus with mentorship from top scientists.

Awards and events

The FNIH organizes lectures, awards and events to promote innovative thinking and develop a broader public understanding of biomedical science. The Lurie Prize in Biomedical Sciences is one example. This $100,000 award, made possible by a donation from the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Foundation, recognizes outstanding achievement by a young scientist in biomedical research.

Patient support programs

The FNIH supports programs that provide comfort and assistance to patients receiving treatment at the NIH Clinical Center and their families. For example, the FNIH supports the Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge, which offers accommodations to adult patients receiving care at the NIH Clinical Center and their families at no cost to them.

Leadership

The FNIH is led by chief executive officer, Julie Gerberding.