What is the primary difference in focus between NIH and NSF?

The primary focus of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is on biomedical research, which includes studies that directly pertain to human health, disease, and the biological processes influencing those areas. The NIH supports a variety of research initiatives that study the mechanisms of disease, the development of treatments, and improving health outcomes for individuals.

In contrast, the National Science Foundation (NSF) primarily funds basic research across various fields, such as mathematics, physical sciences, and social sciences, in addition to biology. While the NSF does support biological research, its focus is broader and encompasses non-biomedical areas, allowing for advancements in scientific knowledge that do not necessarily have immediate applications in medicine.

This delineation reflects the agencies' overarching missions: NIH is fundamentally about advancing health-related research, while NSF aims to support a wider range of scientific disciplines, fostering innovation and inquiry that may not have direct clinical applications.