Which agency is responsible for funding and conducting biomedical research in the United States?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the principal agency responsible for funding and conducting biomedical research in the United States. It is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and plays a critical role in improving health through scientific research. NIH supports a wide range of research areas, yielding significant advances in medical knowledge and public health. This research is vital for developing new treatments, understanding diseases, and ultimately improving healthcare outcomes.

The other choices, while important agencies within the public health sector, serve different roles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) primarily focuses on disease prevention and health promotion rather than directly funding biomedical research, although it does conduct its research. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating food, drugs, and medical devices to ensure their safety and effectiveness but does not primarily fund research. The World Health Organization (WHO) operates internationally to promote health, but it is not a U.S. agency and does not fund research within the U.S. context in the same way that NIH does.