Office of Disease Prevention

The Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) is the lead office at the [National Institutes of Health (NIH)](http://www.nih.gov/) responsible for assessing, facilitating, and stimulating research in disease prevention, and disseminating the results of this research to improve public health. Prevention is preferable to treatment, and research on disease prevention is an important part of NIH's mission. The knowledge gained from this research leads to stronger clinical practice, health policy, and community health programs. **Mission** Our mission is to improve public health by increasing the scope, quality, dissemination, and impact of prevention research supported by the NIH. We will fulfill this mission by providing leadership for the development, coordination, and implementation of prevention research in collaboration with NIH Institutes and Centers and other partners. **Vision** We will extend its value as a resource to NIH and the broader prevention research community by: - Providing guidance in prevention research methodology. - Identifying gaps in existing evidence and facilitating coordination of new activities to address those gaps. - Promoting quality improvements in the review of prevention research. - Increasing the impact and visibility of prevention research. The [ODP Strategic Plan](https://prevention.nih.gov/about-odp/strategic-plan "ODP Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2024–2028") includes activities to carry out our mission and vision, strengthen existing programs, and develop new initiatives to advance prevention research and improve public health.