NIH Clinical Center (CC)

Official account of the NIH Clinical Center

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Since 1953, the NIH Clinical Center, the world's largest hospital dedicated to clinical research, has pioneered research aimed at improving human health. Located on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Md., we serve as a hub where volunteer patients and NIH scientists collaborate to advance medical innovations. More than half a million patients from all 50 states and around the globe have participated in our clinical research programs.

Patients at the Clinical Center participate in research studies at no cost. We currently have around 1,500 studies underway, focusing on cancer, infectious diseases, heart and lung conditions, blood disorders, among others. Our bench-to-bedside approach brings research labs and patient care units together, fostering collaboration and rapid translation of scientific discoveries into treatments that save lives.

We also provide world-class clinical research training for healthcare professionals and attract top scientists from around the globe. With 200 inpatient beds, 11 operating rooms, 93 day-hospital stations, and a wide range of diagnostic services, we are equipped for comprehensive patient care and cutting-edge research.

Our scientific breakthroughs include chemotherapy for solid tumors, nitroglycerin for heart attacks, identifying a genetic component in schizophrenia, the first successful mitral valve replacement in a human heart, and blood tests for AIDS and hepatitis - many of which are now global standards in medical care.