National Institutes of Health, Federal health research agency in Bethesda, United States.
The National Institutes of Health is a federal health research agency in Bethesda made up of multiple specialized research centers. The campus includes laboratory buildings, research facilities, and a clinical center spread across a large site in Montgomery County.
The institution grew from a small laboratory and developed over more than a century into the largest public funder of biomedical research worldwide. The expansion of the campus occurred mainly after World War II, when interest in medical research increased sharply.
The research center hosts public exhibitions on medical history that visitors can explore during open hours. Scientific collections displayed in the public areas show how biomedical studies evolved over the decades.
Visitors can book guided tours through selected areas of the campus, though advance registration is recommended. The public exhibition spaces are accessible, but access to research labs is restricted and requires prior permission.
The Clinical Center is a research hospital where patients from around the world receive treatment while experimental therapies are tested. Over the decades, thousands of participants in clinical trials contributed to the development of new treatment methods.
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