Biomedical Research and Research Training

Uses and Use Restrictions

NIGMS is organized into divisions and a center that support research and research training in basic biomedical science fields. One division has the specific mission of increasing the number of underrepresented minority biomedical and behavioral scientists. The key areas in which these divisions fund research follow. Division of Cell Biology and Biophysics: analytical and separation techniques; biomedical instrumentation; cell organization, motility, and division; lipid biochemistry; membrane structure and function; molecular biophysics; spectroscopic techniques; structural biology; and structural genomics. Division of Genetics and Developmental Biology: cell growth and differentiation; chromosome organization and mechanics; control of gene expression; control of the cell cycle; developmental genetics; extrachromosomal inheritance; mechanisms of mutagenesis; neurogenetics and the genetics of behavior; population genetics, evolution, and the genetics of complex traits; protein synthesis; replication, recombination, and repair of genes; and RNA processing and transcription. Division of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry: anesthesiology; biochemistry; bioenergetics; bio-organic and bio-inorganic chemistry; biotechnology; glycoconjugates and glycobiology; medicinal chemistry; molecular immunobiology; pharmacogenetics; pharmacology and clinical pharmacology; physiology; synthetic chemistry; trauma and burn injury; and wound healing. Division of Minority Opportunities in Research: Minority Access to Research Careers Branch--supports research training at the undergraduate, graduate, and faculty levels and helps institutions with substantial minority enrollments strengthen their biomedical research training capabilities. As a result, these schools are better able to interest and prepare students for doctoral studies and biomedical research careers. Minority Biomedical Research Support Branch--awards grants to institutions with substantial minority enrollments to support research by faculty members, strengthen the institutions' biomedical research capabilities, and provide opportunities for students to work as part of a research team. Special Initiatives (Bridges to the Future Programs and fellowships, career development, and research supplements)--support innovative programs to enhance the research and research training capabilities of institutions with substantial minority enrollments as well as the career development of minority scientists. Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology: biomedical software development, cell and molecular modeling and simulation, computational genomics, database design and enhancement, high-throughput data analysis, systems biology.