NIH-Wide Strategic Plan — Fiscal Years 2016–2020

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About the Strategic Plan

NIH-Wide Strategic Plan cover page

In order to advance its mission and fulfill a request from Congress, NIH developed the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan, Fiscal Years 2016–2020: Turning Discovery Into Health. This plan outlines a vision for biomedical research to capitalize on new opportunities for scientific exploration and address new challenges for human health. Developed with input from hundreds of stakeholders and scientific advisers, and in collaboration with leadership and staff of NIH’s Institutes, Centers, and Offices, the plan is designed to complement the , which are aligned with their congressionally mandated missions.

Planning

In 2015, NIH created a working group to develop a framework outlining the direction of the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan. This working group, which was composed of representatives from NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices within the Office of the Director, was led by NIH Principal Deputy Director Lawrence A. Tabak, D.D.S., Ph.D. To gather feedback from the community on the direction of the plan, the working group coordinated numerous outreach activities:

  • were held in August 2015 and drew nearly 750 participants.
  • solicited over 450 responses. NIH conducted an analysis of the input on the RFI and published a report.
  • Discussions with more than 20 National Advisory Councils, including the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director, were held in the fall of 2015.

The framework below, which informed the development of the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan, identifies areas of opportunity that apply across biomedicine and unifying principles to guide NIH in supporting the biomedical research enterprise.

Overview

Overview: Mission of NIH, Unique moment of opportunity in biomedical research, Current NIH-supported research landscape, Constraints confronting the community in the face of lost purchasing power

Advance Opportunities in Biomedical Research

Advance Opportunities in Biomedical Research

Set Priorities/Enhance Stewardship

Set Priorities and Enhance Stewardship.

Excel as a Federal Agency

Excel as a Federal Science Agency by Managing for Results.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When was the last time NIH went through a strategic planning process?

1991-1992.

2. Does this signify a change in NIH’s direction?

The NIH-Wide Strategic Plan Fiscal Year 2016–2020 places NIH’s enduring mission in the context of tomorrow’s challenges and opportunities. Working with our many partners in the public and private sectors, NIH will use the plan as we strive to turn scientific discoveries into better health, while upholding our responsibility to be wise stewards of the resources provided to us by the American people. The plan is also designed to harmonize decision making across the Agency.

Progress in achieving the goals will reveal where optimal changes can be made in the future or what additional opportunities are emerging.

3. Is this a living document?

Yes, this strategic plan is meant to be a living document that will require refinement throughout its lifecycle.

4. Does this mean you will produce a new strategic plan every five years?

In addition to continual modifications, the strategic plan will be reviewed and updated every 5 years.

5. Why did Congress ask you to do a strategic plan now?

As Congress contemplated increases in NIH funding, they asked for a clear articulation of NIH research priorities, how they were chosen, and what processes are in place to ensure sound stewardship of the public's investment in biomedical and behavioral research. Congress included a mandate for NIH to develop an agency-wide strategic plan in the FY2015 Appropriations Bill (HR 83).

6. Is this the first time Congress has asked NIH to develop a strategic plan?

Yes.

7. Why hasn’t this been a normal course of operation?

The NIH, which is composed of has not previously had an agency-wide strategic plan. However, the NIH Institutes and Centers have , and there also are several strategic plans focused on specific research areas, such as women’s health, obesity, and health disparities.

8. What factors were considered in developing the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan?

Numerous discussions with NIH leadership, staff, the Advisory Committee to the Director, NIH IC Advisory Councils, and external stakeholders were held to determine the key topics to be included and addressed in the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan. Following consideration of this feedback, the plan was designed to highlight the crosscutting nature of the NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices to optimize our processes to enhance our stewardship, and identify major trans-NIH themes.

This page last reviewed on July 30, 2021