The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering: history, status, and potential impact

In December 2000, President Clinton signed legislation establishing the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB). This action was the result of a multidecade effort of the biomedical imaging and engineering communities to gain increased recognition for biomedical imaging and engineering research within the National Institutes of Health and to enhance the impact of these disciplines on the health and well-being of people worldwide. Beginning in January 2001, several activities were initiated to form NIBIB into a real asset for researchers in biomedical imaging and engineering. These activities reflect a recognition that research in biomedical imaging and bioengineering has the potential of positively influencing research in many other biomedical disciplines, as well as directly affecting the welfare of people everywhere. This potential impact is discussed in this report, together with the history and present status of the formation of NIBIB.