A new Spanish-language Web site has been launched to provide information about research and health education on arthritis, rheumatic diseases and disorders of bone, skin, muscle and connective tissue. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), a part of the Department of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health, has developed En Español (In Spanish) (https://www.niams.nih.gov/es/portal-en-espanol) as a tool to reach out to the growing Hispanic/Latino population through the Institute's home page.

En Español, launched during Hispanic Heritage Month, provides vital information about health, research, grants and clinical trials available on the NIAMS Web site. "Our Spanish-language site is a step beyond the production of health information in Spanish. It is our attempt to make the NIAMS Web site more accessible to the growing population of Spanish-speaking individuals," said NIAMS Director Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D. The new Web site offers an opportunity to learn more about the NIAMS mission and how it is implemented through research and other initiatives to improve the health of the nation. Readers can also find information about the Institute's leadership and budget, as well as contacts for questions about grants and clinical trials. The site was prepared in collaboration with professionals who have a solid knowledge of public health issues or the Spanish language. Easily accessible and relevant, this Web site follows the same design as the original English version (www.niams.nih.gov), and it can be reached through the NIAMS Web site.

Most of the conditions under the NIAMS' mission are chronic, and many cause life-long pain and disability. Many affect women and minorities disproportionately, both in increased numbers and increased severity of the diseases.

The mission of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), a part of the Department of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health, is to support research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases, the training of basic and clinical scientists to carry out this research, and the dissemination of information on research progress in these diseases. For more information about NIAMS, call the information clearinghouse at (301) 495-4484 or (877) 22-NIAMS (free call) or visit the NIAMS Web site at http://www.niams.nih.gov