National Institutes of Health Campuses

The Bethesda Campus, serving as the headquarters of the National Institutes of Health, offers a wide array of research training programs, fellowships, and educational initiatives focused on biomedical sciences. These 'courses' emphasize hands-on research experience rather than traditional classroom instruction, preparing participants for careers in health research.

• Biomedical Research Training: Participants engage in laboratory-based projects exploring molecular biology, genetics, and immunology, learning techniques such as PCR, CRISPR editing, and flow cytometry over intensive multi-month sessions.
• Clinical Research Methods: Courses cover clinical trial design, ethics in human subjects research, data analysis using statistical software like R and SAS, and regulatory compliance with FDA guidelines.
• Bioinformatics and Computational Biology: Training includes programming in Python and R for genomic data analysis, machine learning applications in drug discovery, and database management for large-scale omics datasets.
• Epidemiology and Public Health: Modules address study design, surveillance methods, outbreak investigation, and policy analysis, with case studies from global health crises like COVID-19.
• Neuroscience Research: Focuses on neuroimaging techniques, behavioral assays, and neuropharmacology, including hands-on work with animal models and human subjects.
• Cancer Biology: In-depth exploration of oncogenesis, tumor microenvironment, immunotherapy, and precision medicine approaches, with seminars on emerging therapies.
• Infectious Diseases: Courses on virology, bacteriology, vaccine development, and antimicrobial resistance, incorporating fieldwork simulations and biosafety protocols.
• Genomics and Personalized Medicine: Training in next-generation sequencing, variant calling, and ethical considerations in genetic counseling.

These programs, often lasting from weeks to years, integrate mentorship from leading scientists and culminate in publications or presentations. The campus fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, with access to state-of-the-art facilities like the Clinical Center for translational research. Participants gain skills in grant writing, scientific communication, and career development, contributing to NIH's mission of advancing health discoveries. Overall, the educational offerings at Bethesda equip trainees with cutting-edge knowledge to tackle pressing health challenges, from chronic diseases to emerging pathogens, ensuring a robust pipeline of future researchers.

The Frederick Campus, home to the National Cancer Institute's facilities, delivers advanced training programs in cancer research, AIDS-related studies, and biotechnology. These courses target postdoctoral fellows, clinicians, and scientists, emphasizing innovative therapies and diagnostic tools.

• Cancer Genomics: Training in tumor sequencing, mutational analysis, and bioinformatics pipelines for identifying driver mutations and therapeutic targets.
• Immunotherapy Development: Courses on CAR-T cell engineering, checkpoint inhibitors, and vaccine design, with lab sessions on immune cell culturing and assays.
• Structural Biology: Focuses on X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, and protein modeling for drug discovery, including inhibitor screening against cancer proteins.
• AIDS and Retrovirology: Modules covering HIV pathogenesis, antiretroviral drug resistance, and gene therapy approaches using viral vectors.
• Biomanufacturing and Scale-Up: Training in GMP-compliant production of biologics, bioreactor operations, and quality control for clinical-grade materials.
• Radiobiology and Imaging: Hands-on work with PET/SPECT imaging, radiation therapy planning, and nanoparticle delivery systems for targeted treatments.
• Bioinformatics for Precision Oncology: Programming in Perl and SQL for integrating multi-omics data, predictive modeling, and clinical decision support.
• Clinical Trial Management: Courses on protocol development, patient recruitment, adverse event reporting, and data management in oncology trials.

At Frederick, educational initiatives leverage unique resources like the Advanced Biomedical Computing Center for computational training and the Animal Production Program for model development. Programs blend theoretical lectures with practical applications, often leading to collaborative publications. Trainees gain expertise in translating basic science to bedside applications, addressing challenges in cancer and infectious diseases. The campus promotes diversity in research approaches, from nanotechnology to epidemiology, equipping participants with skills for leadership in academia, industry, and government. Through these rigorous courses, Frederick contributes to NIH's goal of conquering cancer and HIV, fostering a new generation of innovators in biomedical research.

The Poolesville Campus specializes in animal research and biosafety training, providing specialized educational programs centered on comparative medicine, veterinary science, and high-containment research practices. These courses are designed for researchers, veterinarians, and technicians working with animal models in biomedical studies.

• Animal Models in Research: Intensive training on selecting and managing rodent, primate, and large animal models for disease studies, including surgical techniques, anesthesia protocols, and welfare standards compliant with AAALAC guidelines.
• Biosafety and BSL-4 Operations: Courses cover personal protective equipment use, decontamination procedures, and emergency response in high-containment labs, with simulations of pathogen handling for Ebola and other select agents.
• Veterinary Pathology: Focuses on necropsy techniques, histopathology, and diagnostic imaging for animals, emphasizing disease transmission and zoonotic risks.
• Translational Research with Animals: Modules on bridging preclinical animal data to human applications, including pharmacokinetics, toxicology testing, and ethical review processes.
• Primate Research Methods: Specialized training in behavioral observation, cognitive testing, and neurophysiological recordings using non-human primates.
• Genetic Engineering in Animals: Hands-on experience with transgenic models, gene knockout strategies, and phenotyping for studying hereditary diseases.
• Environmental Toxicology: Courses exploring animal responses to toxins, including exposure studies, biomarker analysis, and risk assessment methodologies.
• Laboratory Animal Management: Administrative training on colony maintenance, regulatory compliance, and facility design for humane research environments.

Programs at Poolesville emphasize practical skills through live demonstrations and supervised lab work, often in collaboration with the main Bethesda campus. Trainees learn to integrate animal research ethically into broader biomedical goals, with opportunities for certification in biosafety and veterinary care. The campus's focus on secure facilities ensures participants are prepared for global health threats, fostering expertise in areas like vaccine testing and infectious disease modeling. These offerings support NIH's commitment to responsible animal use while advancing scientific knowledge, ultimately benefiting human health outcomes through rigorous, compassionate research training.

The Research Triangle Park Campus, primarily hosting the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), provides comprehensive training in environmental health sciences, toxicology, and exposure assessment. These courses target toxicologists, epidemiologists, and environmental scientists addressing pollution and health impacts.

• Environmental Toxicology: Core training on chemical hazards, dose-response modeling, and in vitro toxicity assays using cell lines and organoids.
• Exposure Science: Modules on biomonitoring, air/water sampling, and personal exposure devices, including data integration with health outcomes.
• Genomics and Epigenetics: Focuses on environmental influences on gene expression, CRISPR-based editing for toxicity studies, and multi-omics analysis.
• Occupational Health: Courses covering workplace ergonomics, chemical safety, and respiratory protection, with case studies from industrial settings.
• Climate Change and Health: Training in modeling vector-borne diseases, heat stress, and disaster preparedness, using climate data and GIS tools.
• Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology: Lab work on teratogens, endocrine disruptors, and fertility assays in animal models.
• Environmental Epidemiology: Statistical methods for cohort studies, spatial analysis, and confounding control in pollution-health links.
• Risk Assessment and Policy: Seminars on EPA guidelines, uncertainty analysis, and communicating risks to policymakers and communities.

Collaborating with nearby universities, the RTP campus offers programs that blend research with public engagement, featuring seminars on Superfund sites and clean-up technologies. Trainees access advanced labs for metabolomics and imaging, developing skills to translate findings into preventive strategies. The emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches prepares participants for careers in regulation, academia, and industry, supporting NIEHS's mission to discover environmental disease causes. Through these dynamic courses, the campus drives innovations in sustainable health, tackling issues like PFAS contamination and urban air quality to safeguard populations from environmental threats.

The Rocky Mountain Laboratories Campus specializes in infectious diseases research, offering training programs in microbiology, vector biology, and high-containment pathogen studies. These courses are tailored for virologists, entomologists, and public health professionals working on emerging threats.

• Tick-Borne Diseases: Intensive modules on Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and anaplasmosis, including field collection of vectors, pathogen isolation, and serological testing.
• Viral Pathogenesis: Training in BSL-3/4 lab techniques for studying filoviruses like Ebola, including aerosol challenge models and antiviral screening.
• Vector Biology: Courses on mosquito and tick rearing, insecticide resistance, and transmission dynamics, with GIS mapping for disease surveillance.
• Bacterial Pathogens: Focuses on intracellular bacteria like Coxiella and Francisella, covering cultivation, genetic manipulation, and vaccine efficacy testing.
• Immunology of Infections: Lab-based exploration of host-pathogen interactions, cytokine profiling, and adaptive immunity using animal and in vitro models.
• Bioaerosol and Environmental Microbiology: Training in sampling airborne pathogens, filtration systems, and risk assessment for biodefense scenarios.
• Molecular Diagnostics: Hands-on PCR, NGS, and qRT-PCR for rapid detection of zoonotic agents, with emphasis on field-deployable assays.
• Epidemiology of Zoonoses: Case studies on outbreak investigations, contact tracing, and modeling disease spread in wildlife populations.

Situated in a scenic yet secure environment, Rocky Mountain's programs integrate fieldwork with advanced lab training, utilizing unique facilities like insectaries and ABSL-4 suites. Participants collaborate on real-time projects, gaining proficiency in biosecurity and interdisciplinary research. The campus's legacy in rickettsial diseases informs courses that prepare trainees for roles in global health security. By emphasizing practical skills and ethical considerations, these offerings advance NIH's efforts against infectious threats, from natural outbreaks to bioterrorism risks, ensuring participants are ready to protect public health worldwide.