Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§286c Purpose, establishment, functions, and funding of National Center for Biotechnology Information

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES › Part Part D— - National Library of Medicine › Subpart subpart 3— - national center for biotechnology information › § 286c

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The law creates the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the National Library of Medicine. NCBI must collect and share biotechnology research and help develop computer tools to study the molecules that affect health and disease. The Secretary must, under section 286(d), have the Center build and run computer systems to store and analyze molecular biology data, research advanced computer methods, let researchers and clinicians use these tools, and coordinate international biotech data efforts.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §286c

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In order to focus and expand the collection, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of the results of biotechnology research by information systems, and to support and enhance the development of new information technologies to aid in the understanding of the molecular processes that control health and disease, there is established the National Center for Biotechnology Information (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Center”) in the National Library of Medicine.
(b)The Secretary, through the Center and subject to section 286(d) of this title, shall—
(1)design, develop, implement, and manage automated systems for the collection, storage, retrieval, analysis, and dissemination of knowledge concerning human molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics;
(2)perform research into advanced methods of computer-based information processing capable of representing and analyzing the vast number of biologically important molecules and compounds;
(3)enable persons engaged in biotechnology research and medical care to use systems developed under paragraph (1) and methods described in paragraph (2); and
(4)coordinate, as much as is practicable, efforts to gather biotechnology information on an international basis.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1993—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–43 struck out subsec. (c) which read as follows: “For the purpose of performing the duties specified in subsection (b) of this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $8,000,000 for fiscal year 1989 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 1990. Funds appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 286c

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73