National Human Genome Research Institute

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) is a division of the National Institutes of Health

National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...

, located in Bethesda, Maryland

Bethesda, Maryland

Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...

.

NHGRI began as the National Center for Human Genome Research (NCHGR), which was established in 1989 to carry out the role of the NIH in the International Human Genome Project (HGP). The HGP was developed in collaboration with the United States Department of Energy

United States Department of Energy

The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...

(DOE) and began in 1990 to map the human genome

Human genome

The human genome is the genome of Homo sapiens, which is stored on 23 chromosome pairs plus the small mitochondrial DNA. 22 of the 23 chromosomes are autosomal chromosome pairs, while the remaining pair is sex-determining...

. In 1993, NCHGR expanded its role on the NIH campus by establishing the Division of Intramural Research

Division of Intramural Research

A Division of Intramural Research is a branch of any one of the National Institutes of Health which funds research done on NIH campuses, the largest of which is located in Bethesda, Maryland...

(DIR) to apply genome technologies to the study of specific diseases. In 1996, the Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR) was also established (co-funded by eight NIH institutes and centers) to study the genetic components of complex disorders.

In 1997 the United States Department of Health and Human Services

United States Department of Health and Human Services

The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...

(DHHS) renamed NCHGR the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), officially elevating it to the status of research institute - one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the NIH.

Now, with the human genome sequence complete since April 2003, scientists around the world have access to a database that greatly facilitates and accelerates the pace of biomedical research

Biomedical research

Biomedical research , in general simply known as medical research, is the basic research, applied research, or translational research conducted to aid and support the body of knowledge in the field of medicine...

Important Events in NHGRI History

October 1, 1988 - The Office for Human Genome Research is created within the Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH). Also, NIH and the Department of Energy (DOE) sign a memorandum of understanding to "coordinate research and technical activities related to the human genome."
April 11, 1996 - Human DNA sequencing begins with pilot studies at six universities in the United States.
March 1999 - Large-scale sequencing of the human genome begins.
April 2003 - The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) celebrates the completion of the human genome sequence, the 50th anniversary of the description of the DNA double helix and the publication of the vision document for the future of genomics research.
May 4, 2007 - The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...

(NCI), have teamed with Group Health Cooperative
Group Health Cooperative
Group Health Cooperative, more commonly known as Group Health, is a Seattle, Washington based nonprofit healthcare organization. Established in 1947, it today provides coverage and care for about 700,000 people in Washington and Idaho and is one of the largest private employers in Washington...

in Seattle and Henry Ford Health System
Henry Ford Health System
The Henry Ford Health System is a comprehensive, integrated, non-profit, managed care, health care organization located in Southeast Michigan. The corporate office is in Detroit, Michigan...

in Detroit to launch the Multiplex Initiative, a study to investigate the interest level of healthy, young adults in receiving genetic testing for eight common conditions.
May 28, 2008 - Francis S. Collins steps down as Director of the Institute after serving for fifteen of the nineteen years of its operation. Alan Edward Guttmacher
Alan Edward Guttmacher
Alan Edward Guttmacher, M.D. , was appointed Acting Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute in 2008, helping oversee the institute's efforts in advancing genome research, exploring its ethical, legal, and social implications, and integrating its benefits into health care.On...

has been appointed acting director while a new permanent director is sought.
November 17, 2009 - NIH Appoints Eric D. Green
Eric D. Green
Eric D. Green is the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute . Prior to this appointment, he was the Scientific Director of NHGRI, a position he has held since 2002...

, M.D., Ph.D. to be Director of The National Human Genome Research Institute. It is the first time an institute director has risen to lead the entire NIH and subsequently picked his own successor.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.