US Code

Public Law 119-87 (04/30/2026)

42 U.S.C. § 281

Organization of National Institutes of Health

(a)

Relation to Public Health Service

The National Institutes of Health is an agency of the Service.

(b)

National research institutes and national centers

The following agencies of the National Institutes of Health are national research institutes or national centers:
(1)
The National Cancer Institute.
(2)
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
(3)
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
(4)
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
(5)
The National Institute on Aging.
(6)
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
(7)
The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
(8)
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
(9)
The National Eye Institute.
(10)
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
(11)
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
(12)
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
(13)
The National Institute on Drug Abuse.
(14)
The National Institute of Mental Health.
(15)
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences.
(16)
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
(17)
The National Institute of Nursing Research.
(18)
The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.
(19)
The National Human Genome Research Institute.
(20)
The National Library of Medicine.
(21)
The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.
(22)
The John E. Fogarty International Center for Advanced Study in the Health Sciences.
(23)
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
(24)
The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
(25)
Any other national center that, as an agency separate from any national research institute, was established within the National Institutes of Health as of the day before .
(c)

Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives

(1)

In general

Within the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health, there shall be a Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (referred to in this subsection as the “Division”).

(2)

Offices within Division

(A)

Offices

The following offices are within the Division: The Office of AIDS Research, the Office of Research on Women’s Health, the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, the Office of Disease Prevention, the Office of Dietary Supplements, and any other office located within the Office of the Director of NIH as of the day before . In addition to such offices, the Director of NIH may establish within the Division such additional offices or other administrative units as the Director determines to be appropriate.

(B)

Authorities

Each office in the Division—
(i)
shall continue to carry out the authorities that were in effect for the office before ; and
(ii)
section 282(b)(7) of this title shall, as determined appropriate by the Director of NIH, support the Division with respect to the authorities described in .
(d)

Organization

(1)

Number of institutes and centers

In the National Institutes of Health, the number of national research institutes and national centers may not exceed a total of 27, including any such institutes or centers established under authority of paragraph (2) or under authority of this subchapter as in effect on the day before .

(2)

Reorganization of institutes

(A)

In general

The Secretary may establish in the National Institutes of Health one or more additional national research institutes to conduct and support research, training, health information, and other programs with respect to any particular disease or groups of diseases or any other aspect of human health if—
(i)
the Secretary determines that an additional institute is necessary to carry out such activities; and
(ii)
the additional institute is not established before the expiration of 180 days after the Secretary has provided the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate written notice of the determination made under clause (i) with respect to the institute.
(B)

Additional authority

The Secretary may reorganize the functions of any national research institute and may abolish any national research institute if the Secretary determines that the institute is no longer required. A reorganization or abolition may not take effect under this paragraph before the expiration of 180 days after the Secretary has provided the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate written notice of the reorganization or abolition.

(3)

Reorganization of Office of Director

Notwithstanding subsection (c), the Director of NIH may, after a series of public hearings, and with the approval of the Secretary, reorganize the offices within the Office of the Director, including the addition, removal, or transfer of functions of such offices, and the establishment or termination of such offices, if the Director determines that the overall management and operation of programs and activities conducted or supported by such offices would be more efficiently carried out under such a reorganization.

(4)

Internal reorganization of institutes and centers

Notwithstanding any conflicting provisions of this subchapter, the director of a national research institute or a national center may, after a series of public hearings and with the approval of the Director of NIH, reorganize the divisions, centers, or other administrative units within such institute or center, including the addition, removal, or transfer of functions of such units, and the establishment or termination of such units, if the director of such institute or center determines that the overall management and operation of programs and activities conducted or supported by such divisions, centers, or other units would be more efficiently carried out under such a reorganization.

(e)

Scientific Management Review Board for periodic organizational reviews

(1)

In general

Not later than 60 days after , the Secretary shall establish an advisory council within the National Institutes of Health to be known as the Scientific Management Review Board (referred to in this subsection as the “Board”).

(2)

Duties

(A)

Reports on organizational issues

The Board shall provide advice to the appropriate officials under subsection (d) regarding the use of the authorities established in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of such subsection to reorganize the National Institutes of Health (referred to in this subsection as “organizational authorities”). Not less frequently than once each 7 years, the Board shall—
(i)
determine whether and to what extent the organizational authorities should be used; and
(ii)
issue a report providing the recommendations of the Board regarding the use of the authorities and the reasons underlying the recommendations.
(B)

Certain responsibilities regarding reports

The activities of the Board with respect to a report under subparagraph (A) shall include the following:
(i)
Reviewing the research portfolio of the National Institutes of Health (referred to in this subsection as “NIH”) in order to determine the progress and effectiveness and value of the portfolio and the allocation among the portfolio activities of the resources of NIH.
(ii)
Determining pending scientific opportunities, and public health needs, with respect to research within the jurisdiction of NIH.
(iii)
For any proposal for organizational changes to which the Board gives significant consideration as a possible recommendation in such report—
(I)
analyzing the budgetary and operational consequences of the proposed changes;
(II)
taking into account historical funding and support for research activities at national research institutes and centers that have been established recently relative to national research institutes and centers that have been in existence for more than two decades;
(III)
estimating the level of resources needed to implement the proposed changes;
(IV)
assuming the proposed changes will be made and making a recommendation for the allocation of the resources of NIH among the national research institutes and national centers; and
(V)
analyzing the consequences for the progress of research in the areas affected by the proposed changes.
(C)

Consultation

In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Board shall consult with—
(i)
the heads of national research institutes and national centers whose directors are not members of the Board;
(ii)
other scientific leaders who are officers or employees of NIH and are not members of the Board;
(iii)
advisory councils of the national research institutes and national centers;
(iv)
organizations representing the scientific community; and
(v)
organizations representing patients.
(3)

Composition of Board

The Board shall consist of the Director of NIH, who shall be a permanent nonvoting member on an ex officio basis, and an odd number of additional members, not to exceed 21, all of whom shall be voting members. The voting members of the Board shall be the following:
(A)
Not fewer than 9 officials who are directors of national research institutes or national centers. The Secretary shall designate such officials for membership and shall ensure that the group of officials so designated includes directors of—
(i)
national research institutes whose budgets are substantial relative to a majority of the other institutes;
(ii)
national research institutes whose budgets are small relative to a majority of the other institutes;
(iii)
national research institutes that have been in existence for a substantial period of time without significant organizational change under subsection (d);
(iv)
as applicable, national research institutes that have undergone significant organization changes under such subsection, or that have been established under such subsection, other than national research institutes for which such changes have been in place for a substantial period of time; and
(v)
national centers.
(B)
Members appointed by the Secretary from among individuals who are not officers or employees of the United States. Such members shall include—
(i)
individuals representing the interests of public or private institutions of higher education that have historically received funds from NIH to conduct research; and
(ii)
individuals representing the interests of private entities that have received funds from NIH to conduct research or that have broad expertise regarding how the National Institutes of Health functions, exclusive of private entities to which clause (i) applies.
(4)

Chair

The Chair of the Board shall be selected by the Secretary from among the members of the Board appointed under paragraph (3)(B). The term of office of the Chair shall be 2 years.

(5)

Meetings

(A)

In general

The Board shall meet at the call of the Chair or upon the request of the Director of NIH, but not fewer than 5 times with respect to issuing any particular report under paragraph (2)(A). The location of the meetings of the Board is subject to the approval of the Director of NIH.

(B)

Particular forums

Of the meetings held under subparagraph (A) with respect to a report under paragraph (2)(A)—
(i)
one or more shall be directed toward the scientific community to address scientific needs and opportunities related to proposals for organizational changes under subsection (d), or as the case may be, related to a proposal that no such changes be made; and
(ii)
one or more shall be directed toward consumer organizations to address the needs and opportunities of patients and their families with respect to proposals referred to in clause (i).
(C)

Availability of information from forums

For each meeting under subparagraph (B), the Director of NIH shall post on the Internet site of the National Institutes of Health a summary of the proceedings.

(6)

Compensation; term of office

section 284a of this titleThe provisions of subsections (b)(4) and (c) of apply with respect to the Board to the same extent and in the same manner as such provisions apply with respect to an advisory council referred to in such subsections, except that the reference in such subsection (c) to 4 years regarding the term of an appointed member is deemed to be a reference to 5 years.

(7)

Reports

(A)

Recommendations for changes

Each report under paragraph (2)(A) shall be submitted to—
(i)
the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;
(ii)
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(iii)
the Secretary; and
(iv)
officials with organizational authorities, other than any such official who served as a member of the Board with respect to the report involved.
(B)

Availability to public

The Director of NIH shall post each report under paragraph (2) on the Internet site of the National Institutes of Health.

(C)

Report on Board activities

Not later than 18 months after , the Board shall submit to the committees specified in subparagraph (A) a report describing the activities of the Board.

(f)

Organizational changes per recommendation of Scientific Management Review Board

(1)

In general

With respect to an official who has organizational authorities within the meaning of subsection (e)(2)(A), if a recommendation to the official for an organizational change is made in a report under such subsection, the official shall, except as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of this subsection, make the change in accordance with the following:
(A)
Not later than 100 days after the report is submitted under subsection (e)(7)(A), the official shall initiate the applicable public process required in subsection (d) toward making the change.
(B)
The change shall be fully implemented not later than the expiration of the 3-year period beginning on the date on which such process is initiated.
(2)

Inapplicability to certain reorganizations

Paragraph (1) does not apply to a recommendation made in a report under subsection (e)(2)(A) if the recommendation is for—
(A)
an organizational change under subsection (d)(2) that constitutes the establishment, termination, or consolidation of one or more national research institutes or national centers; or
(B)
an organizational change under subsection (d)(3).
(3)

Objection by Director of NIH

(A)

In general

Paragraph (1) does not apply to a recommendation for an organizational change made in a report under subsection (e)(2)(A) if, not later than 90 days after the report is submitted under subsection (e)(7)(A), the Director of NIH submits to the committees specified in such subsection a report providing that the Director objects to the change, which report includes the reasons underlying the objection.

(B)

Scope of objection

For purposes of subparagraph (A), an objection by the Director of NIH may be made to the entirety of a recommended organizational change or to 1 or more aspects of the change. Any aspect of a change not objected to by the Director in a report under subparagraph (A) shall be implemented in accordance with paragraph (1).

(4)

Congressional review

section 553 of title 5An organizational change under subsection (d)(2) that is initiated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be carried out by regulation in accordance with the procedures for substantive rules under . A rule under the preceding sentence shall be considered a major rule for purposes of chapter 8 of such title (relating to congressional review of agency rulemaking).

(g)

Definitions

For purposes of this subchapter:
(1)
The term “Director of NIH” means the Director of the National Institutes of Health.
(2)
The terms “national research institute” and “national center” mean an agency of the National Institutes of Health that is—
(A)
listed in subsection (b) and not terminated under subsection (d)(2)(A); or
(B)
established by the Director of NIH under such subsection.
(h)

References to NIH

For purposes of this subchapter, a reference to the National Institutes of Health includes its agencies.

July 1, 1944, ch. 373 Pub. L. 99–158, § 299 Stat. 822 Pub. L. 100–553, § 2(1)102 Stat. 2769 Pub. L. 100–607, title I, § 101(1)102 Stat. 3048 Pub. L. 100–690, title II, § 2613(b)(2)102 Stat. 4238 Pub. L. 102–321, title I, § 121(a)106 Stat. 358 Pub. L. 103–43, title XV107 Stat. 172 Pub. L. 103–417, § 13(b)108 Stat. 4335 Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(f) [title II, § 212, title VI, § 601(k)]112 Stat. 2681–337 Pub. L. 106–525, title I, § 101(b)(1)114 Stat. 2501 Pub. L. 106–580, § 3(e)114 Stat. 3091 Pub. L. 109–482, title I120 Stat. 3675 Pub. L. 110–154, § 1(b)(1)121 Stat. 1827 Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10334(c)(3)(A)124 Stat. 974 Pub. L. 112–74, div. F, title II, § 221(a)(2)125 Stat. 1087 Pub. L. 113–235, div. G, title II, § 224(1)128 Stat. 2490 (, title IV, § 401, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 1501(1), 1511(b)(1), 1521(1), , , 179, 180; , , ; , , , 2681–359, 2681–388; , , ; , , ; , §§ 101(a), (b), 108(a), , , 3676, 3697; , , ; , , ; , (c)(2)(B), , , 1089; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 113–2352014—Subsec. (b)(23). substituted “National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health” for “National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine”.

Pub. L. 112–74, § 221(a)(2)2011—Subsec. (b)(21). , substituted “National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences” for “National Center for Research Resources”.

Pub. L. 112–74, § 221(c)(2)(B)Subsec. (c)(2)(A). , struck out “the Office of Rare Diseases,” after “the Office of Dietary Supplements,”.

Pub. L. 111–1482010—Subsec. (b)(24). substituted “Institute” for “Center”.

Pub. L. 110–1542007—Subsec. (b)(7). substituted “Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development” for “National Institute of Child Health and Human Development”.

Pub. L. 109–482, § 101(a), reenacted section catchline without change and amended text generally, substituting provisions consisting of subsecs. (a) to (d)(1) for former subsecs. (a) to (d) which related to: in subsec. (a), relationship to Public Health Service; in subsec. (b), list of national research institutes that were agencies; in subsec. (c), establishment of additional institutes and reorganization or abolition of institutes; and, in subsec. (d), definition of “national research institute”. See below.

Pub. L. 109–482, § 108(a)Pub. L. 109–482, § 101(a)Subsec. (d)(2). , added after subsec. (d)(1) provisions identical to text of subsec. (c) prior to amendment by , redesignated such provisions as par. (2), added par. heading, redesignated former pars. (1) and (2) as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, added subpar. headings, in subpar. (A), redesignated former subpars. (A) and (B) as cls. (i) and (ii), respectively, in cl. (ii), substituted “Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions” for “Labor and Human Resources” and “clause (i)” for “subparagraph (A)”, and, in subpar. (B), substituted “Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions” for “Labor and Human Resources”.

Pub. L. 109–482, § 101(b)(1)Subsec. (d)(3), (4). , added pars. (3) and (4).

Pub. L. 109–482, § 101(b)(2)Subsecs. (e) to (h). , added subsecs. (e) to (h).

Pub. L. 106–5802000—Subsec. (b)(1)(R). added subpar. (R).

Pub. L. 106–525, § 101(b)(1)(A)Subsec. (b)(2)(F). , realigned margins.

Pub. L. 106–525, § 101(b)(1)(B)Subsec. (b)(2)(G). , added subpar. (G).

Pub. L. 105–277, § 101(f) [title II, § 212]1998—Subsec. (b)(1)(H). , substituted “National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research” for “National Institute of Dental Research”.

Pub. L. 105–277, § 101(f) [title VI, § 601(k)]Subsec. (b)(2)(F). , added subpar. (F).

Pub. L. 103–4171994—Subsec. (b)(2)(E). added subpar. (E).

Pub. L. 103–43, § 1511(b)(1)(A)1993—Subsec. (b)(1)(Q). , added subpar. (Q).

Pub. L. 103–43, § 1501(1)Subsec. (b)(2)(B). , amended subpar. (B) generally, substituting “National Center for Research Resources” for “Division of Research Resources”.

Pub. L. 103–43Subsec. (b)(2)(D). , §§ 1511(b)(1)(B), 1521(1), added subpar. (D) and struck out former subpar. (D) which read as follows: “The National Center for Nursing Research.”

Pub. L. 102–3211992—Subsec. (b)(1)(N) to (P). added subpars. (N) to (P).

Pub. L. 100–553Pub. L. 100–607Pub. L. 100–690Pub. L. 100–6071988—Subsec. (b)(1)(J), (M). and made identical amendments, striking out “and Communicative” after “Neurological” in subpar. (J), and adding subpar. (M). amended subsec. (b)(1) to read as if the amendments by had not been enacted.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2007 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–482, title I, § 109120 Stat. 3697

“This title [see Tables for classification] and the amendments made by this title apply only with respect to amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2007 or subsequent fiscal years.”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 2000 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–525, title VI, § 603114 Stat. 2511

section 283b of this title“This Act [enacting subpart 6 (§ 287c–31 et seq.) of part E of this subchapter and sections 293e, 296e–1, and 299a–1 of this title, amending sections 281, 296f, 299a, 299c–6, and 300u–6 of this title, repealing , and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 201, 287c–31, 293e, and 3501 of this title] and the amendments made by this Act take effect , or upon the date of the enactment of this Act [], whichever occurs later.”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–321Pub. L. 102–321section 236 of this titleAmendment by effective , with provision for programs providing financial assistance, see section 801(c), (d) of , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–690section 2613(b)(1) of Pub. L. 100–690section 285m of this titleFor effective date of amendment by , see , set out as an Effect of Enactment of Similar Provisions note under .

Construction of 2007 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–482, title I, § 102(g)120 Stat. 3685

42 U.S.C. 20142 U.S.C. 281“This Act [see Tables for classification] and the amendments made by this Act may not be construed as affecting the authorities of the national research institutes and national centers that were in effect under the Public Health Service Act [ et seq.] on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act [], subject to the authorities of the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of NIH under section 401 of the Public Health Service Act [] (as amended by section 101 of this Act). For purposes of the preceding sentence, the terms ‘national research institute’, ‘national center’, and ‘Director of NIH’ have the meanings given such terms in such section 401.”
, , , provided that:

Study of the Use of Centers of Excellence at the National Institutes of Health

Pub. L. 107–84, § 7115 Stat. 829 , , , required the Secretary of Health and Human Services to contract, not later than 60 days after , with the Institute of Medicine to conduct a study on the impact of, need for, and other issues associated with Centers of Excellence at the National Institutes of Health and complete the study and submit a report not later than one year after the date of the contract.

Report on Medical Uses of Biological Agents in Development of Defenses Against Biological Warfare

Pub. L. 103–43, title XIX, § 1904107 Stat. 203 , , , directed Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with Secretary of Defense and with heads of other appropriate executive agencies, to report to Congress, not later than 12 months after , on the appropriateness and impact of the National Institutes of Health assuming responsibility for the conduct of all Federal research, development, testing, and evaluation functions relating to medical countermeasures against biowarfare threat agents.

Research on Lupus Erythematosus

Pub. L. 99–158, § 599 Stat. 880 Pub. L. 102–531, title III, § 312(f)106 Stat. 3506 , , , as amended by , , , directed Secretary of Health and Human Resources to establish a Lupus Erythematosus Coordinating Committee to plan, develop, coordinate, and implement comprehensive Federal initiatives in research on Lupus Erythematosus, provided for composition of committee and meetings, and directed Committee to prepare a report for Congress on its activities, to be submitted not later than 18 months after , with Committee to terminate one month after the report was submitted.

Interagency Committee on Learning Disabilities

Pub. L. 99–158, § 999 Stat. 882 , , , directed Director of the National Institutes of Health, not later than 90 days after , to establish an Interagency Committee on Learning Disabilities to review and assess Federal research priorities, activities, and findings regarding learning disabilities (including central nervous system dysfunction in children), provided for composition of the Committee, directed Committee to report to Congress on its activities not later than 18 months after , and provided that the Committee terminate 90 days after submission of the report.