About the Intramural Research Program

Michael W. Krause, Ph.D. 
Michael W. Krause, Ph.D. 
Scientific Director
James E. Balow, M.D. 
James E. Balow, M.D.
Clinical Director

The Intramural Research Program (IRP) of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) conducts basic, translational and clinical biomedical research related to: diabetes mellitus, endocrine, bone and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, including liver diseases and nutritional disorders; kidney diseases; and hematologic diseases. Intramural research is conducted in the Institute's laboratories and clinical facilities in Bethesda, Maryland and in Phoenix, Arizona.

The hallmarks of the NIDDK IRP are excellence and diversity. Many of the scientists within the IRP have achieved international recognition as highly productive and innovative researchers. The present program continues a tradition of excellence reflected in the several Nobel prizes and other prestigious awards that have resulted from its work. Many scientists trained in the IRP are now prominent faculty members at leading universities throughout the world.

The research conducted in the IRP spans the breadth of modern biomedical investigation, from basic science to clinical studies. A sampling of areas under study includes:

  • biophysics — studies of protein folding, development of optical and vibrational imaging, and theory of protein dynamics
  • cell biology — studies of nuclear import/export, intracellular protein and lipid trafficking, cellular migration and prions
  • chemical biology and medicinal chemistry — synthesis and characterization of novel compounds and discovery of biologically active natural products
  • developmental biology — studies using model systems ranging from slime molds to vertebrates to human cells
  • genetics, pathogenesis and novel therapies of disease — studies of diabetes types 1 and 2, hepatitis, lipodystrophy, multiple endocrine neoplasia, nephritis/nephropathy, obesity, sickle cell anemia and transplantation
  • molecular biology — studies of chromatin structure and function, transcriptional regulation and DNA recombination
  • signal transduction — basic and human disease-oriented studies of GTP-binding proteins and GTP-binding protein-coupled receptors, tyrosine kinase receptors and nuclear hormone receptors
  • structural biology — studies using x-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy


The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) conducts and supports biomedical research and training related to diabetes mellitus; endocrine, bone, and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, including liver diseases and nutritional disorders; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases.

About the Intramural Program

Labs, Branches, and Core Facilities
The organization of the scientific enterprise at NIDDK, both basic and clinical research, and the core support structure of shared resources.

Fellowship Office
The central resource of information and main point of contact about research training programs, fellowship activities, orientation, and career development opportunities at NIDDK.

Research Training Opportunities
Information concerning position openings, educational opportunities, and training.

Technology Transfer Office
The interface that facilitates the formation of collaborations between investigators at NIDDK and investigators at companies, in academia, and in other federal laboratories.

Research Program Areas


The research conducted in the intramural program spans the breadth of modern biomedical investigation, from basic science to clinical studies.

Clinical Protocols
A listing of NIDDK's clinical research studies and information about patient recruitment.

Research Resources
A listing of resources and databases provided to support the intramural research staff.

Images of researchers working in NIDDK’s Intramural Research Program

Page last updated: August 09, 2012

General inquiries may be addressed to:
Office of Communications & Public Liaison
NIDDK, NIH
Bldg 31, Rm 9A06
31 Center Drive, MSC 2560
Bethesda, MD 20892-2560
USA
301.496.3583

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