Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is an American non-profit medical research organization based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. It was founded by the late businessman and philanthropist Howard R. Hughes in 1953. HHMI is one of the largest private funding organizations for biomedical research in the United States.
HHMI’s mission is “to advance biomedical research and science education for the benefit of humanity.” To that end, the institute supports basic research at more than 60 institutions across the United States; it also runs a number of its own laboratories and programs, including Janelia Farm Research Campus, a state-of-the-art facility in Ashburn, Virginia that houses 700 scientists, students, and support staff engaged in cutting-edge research on neuroscience and cell biology.
In addition to its scientific work, HHMI has a longstanding commitment to K–12 science education. The institute funds a variety of educational programs aimed at getting more young people interested in science careers—including summer internships for high school students at Janelia Farm—and provides grants to help cover tuition costs for college students from families with limited incomes who want to pursue STEM degrees.
Since its inception, HHMI has awarded more than $21 billion in grants and other support to scientists around the world—making it one of the most important sources of private funding for biomedical research today.