Foundation for the National Institutes of Health

10/21/2026

Meet Shingo Kajimura, PhD, recipient of the 2026 Montrone-Seigel Prize in Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Kajimura was inspired by his curiosity and his love of fishing – paired with his time as a graduate student in Michigan, where winters are harsh – to explore how animals adapt to cold environments. This “curiosity-driven research” eventually led to a new discovery about brown fat and its implications for metabolic disease.

“Traditionally brown fat was thought to be a specialized organ that makes heat and could then protect you from a cold environment,” Dr. Kajimura said. “The work that we did led to the notion that brown fat is doing far more than making heat and protects you from metabolic disease – specifically diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.”

To build on this discovery, his team is now working to find a way to safely activate brown fat, without stressing the body, to improve metabolic health.

FNIH will honor Dr. Kajimura at the Celebration of Science on October 28 at Union Station in Washington, DC.

Shingo Kajimura, PhD, was inspired by his curiosity and his love of...

10/20/2026

Leading researchers will share insights and next steps during RECOVER-TLC’s third annual workshop on November 4-5, 2026. You won't want to miss these vital updates as we continue our work to identify safe, effective therapies to treat Long COVID.

You can attend the workshop in person at The Bethesdan Hotel in Bethesda, Md., or virtually via Zoom. Don't miss out on this opportunity to hear from leaders in the community, join thought-provoking discussions, and network.

Workshop registration is free. https://web.cvent.com/event/e0be4010-7794-415c-9598-b8a431712054/summary

10/16/2026

The countdown begins! In 12 days we will gather with partners, patients, benefactors, and leading biomedical researchers at the FNIH Celebration of Science at Union Station in Washington, DC. This inspiring event recognizes stellar achievements and dedicated partners who are helping us pave the way for next-generation therapeutic approaches and diagnostic tools – all in support of the NIH mission.

Learn more: https://fnih.org/our-programs/powering-science/fnih-celebration-science/

-SeigelPrize

10/14/2026

FNIH is deeply saddened by the passing of veteran medical reporter Helen Branswell of STAT. For decades, her work has been a vital resource helping the public navigate infectious disease outbreaks, including influenza, Ebola, and COVID-19. The accuracy, clarify, and integrity she brought to her work were exemplary.

Earlier this year, FNIH named Ms. Branswell the recipient of the 2026 Kovler Prize for Trust in Life Science Journalism. We were fortunate to have a chance to chat with her this summer, when she shared more about how her career started. Ms. Branswell liked writing, so after college, she worked as a freelance reporter. A flu outbreak provided her first big break. “Everybody in the newsroom got sick – but I didn’t get sick and they kept calling me in. That’s effectively how I got my first job in journalism.”

We are looking forward to highlighting Ms. Branswell's achievements during the FNIH Celebration of Science on October 28 in Washington, DC.

Learn more about her amazing career:

Helen Branswell, STAT's infectious disease reporter who earned the respect of experts and public health officials with her accessible, prescient dispatches, has died at age 69.

10/09/2026

A New York Times article explores an upcoming FNIH public-private partnership that aims to advance therapeutic cancer vaccines from research to clinical care. Unlike preventive vaccines like the flu shot, these vaccines are designed to fight existing cancer and prevent it from returning. Stacey Adam, PhD, Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer for FNIH, shared her confidence in the technology, along with her hope that this initiative will make these treatments more accessible. The goal, she said, is that “in seven to 10 years, anyone who walks into a doctor’s office can get a vaccine."

The article also quoted FNIH partners Vinod Balachandran of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Karen Knudsen of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and Anthony Letai of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute.

This new public-private partnership, the Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines Initiative, aims to transform cancer care.

New details have emerged about an initiative that starts in December to fast-track the vaccines, similar to the successful push for the Covid-19 vaccine.

10/09/2026

This , the theme of “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change” recognizes that advancing mental health research starts with listening to the people it is meant to serve.

Marty Parrish and Peggy Huppert know that depression can be a long and difficult journey. After decades of experience with illness, treatment, caregiving, and recovery, they’re sharing their story to offer hope, encourage others to keep seeking support, and help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Their message is that depression is a chronic illness, but with persistence, community support, and continuing research on the disease, people can find healing. Read their story and learn how FNIH’s MAP-D project is incorporating patient experiences into research designed to better understand depression and advance more precise, individualized care. https://fnih.org/patient-engagement/patient-voices-fnih/hope-after-depression/

10/05/2026

Congratulations to Karl Deisseroth, MD, PhD, DH, for being awarded a 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. This monumental achievement reflects his commitment to following his curiosity and compassion to transform the way scientists understand the brain.

Dr. Deisseroth is a 2015 FNIH biomedical prize recipient. He has also provided his insight and expertise as a member of the Scientific Selection Committee for the Deeda Blair Research Initiative for Disorders of the Brain, an award that is managed by FNIH.

“There is a big picture that brings it all into relief and my hope is that we can increase empathy and understanding,” says 2026 medicine laureate Karl Deisseroth.

As a medical student, Deisseroth completed part of his training at a psychiatric clinic. He was struck by the patients’ suffering and their need for help. At the same time, he began to wonder how the brain could function so differently from one person to another.

Deisseroth was awarded this year's medicine prize, together with Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel, for discoveries leading to optogenetics – a biological technique making it possible to switch the activity of individual nerve cells in a living brain on or off.

Optogenetics is now helping us understand more about how nerve cells shape memories, emotions and behaviour in the living brain.

Learn more about the 2026 medicine prize: https://bit.ly/3T6a8f7

10/02/2026

Since 2000, Dave Forsell has been treated at NIH for von Hippel-Lindau disease, a rare disorder that can cause the growth of cancerous and benign tumors. During that time, he's had 25 surgeries to keep the disease in check, and he is currently being treated with a newly approved drug that seems to be suppressing tumor growth.

To express his gratitude for the care he has received, Dave and his wife set up a sizable legacy gift through FNIH to support the landscaping and beautification of the NIH campus. It’s a cause close to Dave’s heart – he’s a retired nonprofit leader who dedicated his career to improving lives through public green spaces.

“It is a remarkable feeling to give to something you care about,” he said. “I love public art, trees, and nature, and I want to be part of something beautiful and lasting — a place for doctors, patients, and visitors to intermingle and connect with each other.”

Dave Forsell set up a legacy gift to support landscaping and beautification of the NIH campus to express his gratitude for many years of care.

09/30/2026

For many people who have completed cancer treatment, one question can linger: Will the cancer come back?

Therapeutic cancer vaccines could offer a new way to help prevent cancer from returning — by training a patient’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells and remain alert for those that may come back.

This morning on TODAY, former NBC correspondent and breast cancer survivor Kristen Dahlgren, along with Dr. Karen Knudsen, CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, discussed an upcoming effort to accelerate this promising field.

The Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines Initiative (TCVI), led by the FNIH and the National Cancer Institute, is a public-private partnership bringing together government, life sciences companies, academia, philanthropy, and patient advocacy to advance coordinated clinical trials and build the infrastructure needed to move therapeutic cancer vaccines toward more patients.

Watch the full conversation:

Vaccines are one of the fastest growing areas in cancer research, and one industry research firm projects that the market for personalized cancer vaccines could reach more than $8 billion a year by 2034. Former NBC News correspondent Kristen Dahlgren and cancer researcher Dr. Karen Knudsen, CEO of T...

09/30/2026

Join us for updates and thought-provoking discussions at RECOVER-TLC’s third annual workshop on November 4-5, 2026. This two-day session includes keynote speakers, interactive panels, input from people with lived experience, and networking opportunities. The workshop will highlight RECOVER-TLC's annual progress and engage community members in discussions about critical issues to ensure our research is inclusive, practical, and connected to the real needs of people and families.

This year’s event will again offer flexible participation options. You can attend in person at The Bethesdan Hotel in Bethesda, Md., or virtually via Zoom.

Sign up now: https://web.cvent.com/event/e0be4010-7794-415c-9598-b8a431712054/summary

-TLC LongCOVID