Investing in Discovery
An Overview of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Division of Biomedical Technology, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology
Division of Cell Biology and Biophysics
Division of Genetics and Developmental Biology
Division of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry
Division of Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity
Free Science Education Materials
Nobel Prizes
Left:This microscopic swimmer
called Tetrahymena helped
Carol Greider and others
examine chromosome tips
(telomeres). Their work
was honored with the
2009 Nobel Prize in
physiology or medicine.
Right: Greider is pictured with fellow Johns Hopkins University scientist—and Nobel laureate—Peter Agre.
Right: Greider is pictured with fellow Johns Hopkins University scientist—and Nobel laureate—Peter Agre.
Supporting high-quality research is a defining characteristic of NIGMS. Many of the Institute's grantees earn prestigious awards, including the Nobel Prize, the highest honor bestowed in science. Over its 50 years, NIGMS has funded the Nobel Prize-winning work of 75 scientists. Among their discoveries:
- Translating the genetic code and explaining how it functions.
- Defining the internal organization of cells using electron microscopy and other techniques.
- Finding that RNA can act as a catalyst, controlling and directing cellular functions.
- Discovering restriction enzymes, which cut DNA at precise locations and are a cornerstone of the biotechnology industry.
- Identifying proteins that trigger a cell's response to outside signals and are involved in normal activities as well as diseases like cancer, cholera and diabetes.
A complete list of NIGMS-funded Nobelists is at http://www.nigms.nih.gov/GMNobelists.htm.
This page last reviewed on September 18, 2012
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