Biological - NIH Office of Science Education - National Institutes of ...

• Dental sealants have proved 100-percent effective
in protecting the chewing surfaces of children’s
molars and premolars, where most
cavities occur.
• In 1990, NIH researchers performed the first
trial of gene therapy in humans. Scientists are
increasingly able to locate, identify, and describe
the functions of many of the genes in the human
genome. The ultimate goal is to develop screening
tools and gene therapies for cancer and
many other diseases.
NIH Research in the 21st Century
NIH has enabled scientists to learn much since its
humble beginnings. But many discoveries remain
to be made:
• Better ways to prevent and treat cancer, heart disease,
stroke, blindness, arthritis, diabetes, kidney
diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, communication
disorders, mental illness, drug abuse and alcoholism,
AIDS, and other unconquered diseases.
• Ways to continue improving the health of
infants and children, women, and minorities.
• Better ways to understand the aging process,
and behavior and lifestyle practices that affect
health.
These are some of the areas where the NIH’s
investment in health research promises to yield the
greatest good for the greatest number of people.
For more about NIH visit its Web site at
http://www.nih.gov.
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Appendix I