Basic Research – Digital Media Kit (2024)

In this kit:

Basic Research Overview NIH’s Funding of Basic Research Basic Research and Breakthroughs Images Additional Resources

Overview

Basic science research helps us understand the principles, mechanisms and processes that underlie living organisms. Through basic research, scientists try to answer fundamental questions about how life works. For example, they may examine how cells talk to each other, how proteins fold or how gene activity is controlled. The knowledge gained from this work serves as the foundation for biomedical advances that help protect and improve human health.

It can be difficult to predict how a basic research study will lead to human health benefits. The line between discovery and medical application can be long and hard to trace. The fundamental knowledge gained through basic science often leads to unanticipated breakthroughs in how to predict, prevent, diagnose and treat disease. Research into specific disease targets, called translational or applied research, depends on a broad and diverse scientific research portfolio to create the foundation that makes further scientific discovery possible.

The return on investment from basic research over the long term is significant; most of the gains in reducing human suffering from illness and disease and extending life expectancy over the past century could not have happened without basic research.

NIH’s Funding of Basic Research

A large part of NIH’s mission and role in the biomedical enterprise is to support basic biomedical research. Funding for basic science research accounts for approximately 51% of the NIH budget.

A recent analysis of NIH funding showed that NIH contributed to published research associated with every one of the 210 new drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration from 2010 to 2016; 90% of that research was basic, looking at the biological targets for drug action rather than the drugs themselves.

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), part of the NIH, funds much of the nation’s basic biomedical research. However all NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) support basic research relevant to the diseases, organ systems, stages of life or populations within their mission area.

A few examples of work at NIH ICs include:

  • The National Cancer Institute supports a basic research program at their Center for Cancer Research which aims to deepen understanding of the biology of cancer in order create better therapies and aid in early detection.
  • The National Institute on Mental Health conducts basic research on the brain in an effort to find causes and treatments for mental illness.
  • The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases conducts and supports basic research to inform the design of new and improved vaccines, diagnostics and antiviral drugs.

Basic Research and Breakthroughs

Breakthrough medical discoveries, the kind that lead to treatments and cures, are the result of basic research done by many scientists over a long period of time.

Examples of breakthroughs:

  • The rapidly emerging field of cancer immunotherapy was borne from decades of basic research into how the immune system functions at the molecular level.
  • The widely used chemotherapy drug cisplatin was created after researchers studying the effects of electrical fields on bacteria noticed the bacteria weren’t dividing normally. The cause was traced to the presence of platinum chemicals from which the cisplatin treatment was developed.
  • A study examining how microbes protect themselves led to the discovery of the revolutionary gene editing tool known as CRISPR, which holds great potential for treating many currently incurable diseases.
  • Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging was developed to help study physical, chemical, electrical and structural information about molecules. The same technique is now used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in hospitals, allowing doctors to see tissues and organs inside the body and diagnose many conditions.
  • The emergence of “cryo-EM,” a new form of electron microscopy, has dramatically sped up the time needed to visualize the details of biological structures. This revolution in structural biology is already transforming drug design.

Find more examples on the NIH Impact page.

Images

Additional Resources

Basic Research – Digital Media Kit (2024)

FAQs

What is basic research in biology? ›

The goal of basic research is to understand the function of newly discovered molecules and cells, strange phenomena, or little-understood processes.

Why is basic research good? ›

Basic research is an important research method because it exposes researchers to varying dimensions within a field of study. This proves useful, not only for improving scholarship and the general knowledge-base, but for solving problems as is the concern of applied research.

How does basic biological research lead to discoveries that affect society? ›

Basic science, sometimes called “pure” or “fundamental” science, helps researchers understand living systems and life processes. This knowledge leads to better ways to predict, prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. Through basic science, researchers try to answer fundamental questions about how life works.

What is applied research biomedical? ›

Applied Research: Research that is directed towards specific objectives such as the development of a new drug, therapy, or surgical procedure. It involves the application of existing knowledge, much of which is obtained through basic research, to a specific biomedical problem.

What does basic research answer? ›

Basic research is defined as “a systematic study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts without specific applications towards processes or products in mind.”

What are examples of basic research? ›

Examples of basic research
  • Investigation into how the universe began.
  • A study searching for the causes of cancer.
  • Understanding the components that make up human DNA.
  • An examination into whether a vegetarian diet is healthier than one with meat.
  • A study to learn more about which areas in the world get the most precipitation.
Feb 27, 2023

What is another name for basic research? ›

Basic research, also called pure research, fundamental research, basic science, or pure science, is a type of scientific research with the aim of improving scientific theories for better understanding and prediction of natural or other phenomena.

How to make basic research? ›

Depending on your familiarity with the topic and the challenges you encounter along the way, you may need to rearrange these steps.
  1. Step 1: Identify and develop your topic. ...
  2. Step 2 : Do a preliminary search for information. ...
  3. Step 3: Locate materials. ...
  4. Step 4: Evaluate your sources. ...
  5. Step 5: Make notes. ...
  6. Step 6: Write your paper.

Does basic research have limitations? ›

Does basic research have limitations? Basic research aims to provide more information about your research topic. It requires the same standard research methodology and data collection efforts as any other research type, and it can also have limitations.

What is an example of a basic science? ›

Through basic science, researchers try to answer fundamental questions about how life works. Examples include: ∎ How do cells talk to each other? ∎ What controls gene activity?

What is the full meaning of basic science? ›

Basic science is the foundation of scientific knowledge. It comprises the fundamental principles of natural sciences such as physics, chemistry, and biology. These principles are used to build more specialized knowledge in fields such as medical science and engineering.

Why is basic research important? ›

Basic science research is an essential pillar of scientific knowledge, because it extends understanding, provides new insights, and contributes to the advancement of science and fundamental knowledge across disciplines.

How does basic research contribute to medical advancements? ›

Basic research can address clinical issues from a reductionist approach, including the discovery and analysis of single genes or genetic markers of diseases, or sequencing and manipulating genes.

What is an example of basic research in biology? ›

Through basic research, scientists try to answer fundamental questions about how life works. For example, they may examine how cells talk to each other, how proteins fold or how gene activity is controlled.

What is the meaning of basic science research? ›

Typically, basic science research focuses on determining the causal mechanisms behind the functioning of the human body in health and illness, and utilizes hypothesis-driven experimental designs that can be specifically tested and revised.

What is the basic concept of research? ›

Research is "creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge". It involves the collection, organization, and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness to controlling sources of bias and error.

What does basic mean in biology? ›

But what does it actually mean for something to be acidic or basic? To give you the short answer: An acidic solution has a high concentration of hydrogen ions (H ‍ ), greater than that of pure water. A basic solution has a low H ‍ concentration, less than that of pure water.

What's the difference between basic and applied science? ›

Summary. Basic science, such as understanding how cells work, is research aimed at understanding fundamental problems. Applied science, such as the medical field, is the application of basic scientific knowledge to solve practical problems. Applied science uses and applies information obtained through basic science.

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