Chronic Disease | Foundation for the National Institutes of Health

Nearly one in two adults suffers from at least one chronic illness, such as diabetes or arthritis, and seven out of 10 deaths in the United States each year are caused by chronic disease. Foundation for NIH programs target these diseases at every stage: prevention, detection, therapies, intervention and cure.

Key Initiatives, Research Partners

I-SPY 2: Investigation of Serial Studies to Predict Your Therapeutic Response with Imaging and Molecular Analysis

The I-SPY 2 trial employs a groundbreaking clinical trial model that uses genetic or biological markers (“biomarkers”) from individual patients’ tumors to screen promising new treatments, identifying which treatments are most effective in specific types of patients. In addition, an innovative adaptive trial design will enable researchers to use early data from one set of patients to guide decisions about which treatments might be more useful for patients later in the trial, and eliminate ineffective treatments more quickly. The large-scale trial involves a unique collaboration by scientists from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), FDA, and nearly 20 major cancer research centers across the country. Study results will be made broadly available to the entire cancer research and development community.

Program, Research Partners

SubPopulations and InteRmediate Outcome Measures In COPD Study (SPIROMICS)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic disease that makes it difficult for sufferers to breathe, causing coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and other symptoms. Affecting as many as 24 million people in the United States, the disease gradually worsens over time and is currently without a cure. Existing treatments can provide only moderate relief of symptoms.

Program, Research Partners

The Heart Truth® Community Action Grant Program

One in four American women dies of heart disease - making it the number-one killer of women. The Heart Truth® is a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Completed Programs, Program

Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) II

The most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis affects over 15 million people in the United States. Working in collaboration, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the and the private sector are striving to improve the efficiency of drug development and clinical trials for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Program, Research Partners

ADNI II: Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative

As many as 5.3 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's disease. Today, there is no cure, no disease-modifying treatment, and no way to prevent the disease. ADNI II aims to build on the success of ADNI, which concluded in 2010. ADNI study investigators have submitted a grant renewal application to the NIH to continue the ADNI study for an additional five years (From late 2010 to late 2015).

Completed Programs, Program

Imaging Database Resources Initiative (IDRI)

Imaging software analysis of digital data collected by X-ray CT, MRI, CT and PET is increasingly central to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. New software methods for interpreting and managing this information must be evaluated in a more standardized manner to ensure their optimum performance.

Completed Programs, Program

Biotechnology Resource for Innovation and Development in Genomedicine (BRIDGE)

BRIDGE is a public-private consortium with the goal of developing gene-specific anticancer therapies to advance cancer treatment. The project applies new systems biology strategies to identify genes that are aberrant in cancer cells.

Program, Research Partners

Measures for Clinical Trials of Treatment of Cognitive Impairment (MATRICS-CT)

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe brain disorder that affects over one percent of the U.S. population. Because many sufferers have difficulty holding a job or caring for themselves, the burden on their families and society is significant. Current treatments fall short of relieving many symptoms.

Program, Research Partners

Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network (DILIN)

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) created the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network to collect and carefully analyze cases of liver injury caused by prescription and non-prescription drugs, nutritional supplements and herbal remedies.

Completed Programs, Program

Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI)

Osteoarthritis—the most common form of arthritis—is a degenerative joint disease, and the major cause of physical limitations and disability in older people. Today, 35 million people (13 percent of the U.S. population) are 65 and older, and more than half of them have clear evidence of osteoarthritis in at least one joint. By 2030, 20 percent of Americans (about 70 million people) will have passed their 65th birthday and will be at risk for osteoarthritis.

Completed Programs, Program

Head-Off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana (HEAL)

HEAL is one of the largest public-private partnerships established to investigate the impact of environmental disparities on human health. Launched in 2006, the program is designed to identify risks associated with developing and exacerbating airway disease, especially asthma, in post-Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans.

Programs in Development, Research Partners

Osteoarthritis Biomarkers Project

This important new research study sponsored by a public-private partnership is designed to identify and classify biological markers (measurable physical traits also called “biomarkers”) of progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Research for this study will be conducted by an international team of leading OA scientists and clinicians. The potential impact of this project is significant; the OA biomarkers identified may be used to categorize individuals at risk of developing severe OA, to develop new measures for clinical progression of the disease, and to develop new treatment options for the prevention of OA progression.

Programs in Development

Kidney Safety Biomarker Qualification

This kidney safety project will impact public health by generating the data needed to advance, among the scientific community, clinicians and regulators the acceptance of the new biomarkers that are appropriate for monitoring kidney safety in the clinic and from reaching alignment on how these biomarkers should be used to improve clinical diagnoses of drug-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) during drug development and during patient therapy with presently marketed and well known nephrotoxic drugs.

Grants

The Heart Truth® Community Action Grant Program

In its third year, The Heart Truth® Community Action Grant Program aims to equip community organizations to assist women—especially those of color, low income, or in rural areas—in identifying personal risk factors for heart disease and motivating them to take action to lower their risk.