NCATS Response

Research shows that diverse teams working together and capitalizing on innovative ideas and distinct perspectives outperform homogenous teams. Scientists and trainees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences bring different perspectives, creativity, and individual enterprise to address complex scientific problems. There are many benefits that flow from a diverse NIH-supported scientific workforce, including: fostering scientific innovation, enhancing global competitiveness, contributing to robust learning environments, improving the quality of the research, advancing the likelihood that underserved or health disparity populations take part in, and benefit from health research, and enhancing public trust.

Developing new therapies and getting them to patients is long and difficult. During public health emergencies, such as the Covid-19 Pandemic, science must move faster than ever. That is where translational science comes in. Translational science is focused on streamlining the process of moving (“translating”) lab findings into medical practice and treatments to improve health and well-being.

NCATS is supporting research activities spanning the translational science spectrum to address the novel coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) and the disease it causes (COVID-19). To accelerate translational research, NCATS has developed research tools, technologies, expertise and collaborative networks that can quickly pivot to address urgent public health issues.

Opioid addiction, misuse and overdose is an ongoing and rapidly evolving public health crisis. An estimated 2 million Americans are addicted to opioids, with approximately 25 million suffering daily from chronic pain. More than 115 Americans die every day due to opioid overdoses, and prescription drug misuse costs the nation billions in healthcare, law enforcement and lost productivity each year.

Healthcare professionals, policy makers, law enforcement and private stakeholders are committed to ending the opioid crisis and its clear that science and research will be a critical component in achieving this goal. From the standpoint of the NIH, its “all scientific hands on deck” in battling the Opioid Crisis.