FAQ
Q: Can I register for this meeting, and when is the deadline for registration?
A: This event is free and open to the public, and anyone can complete the registration form before the registration deadline. Please note that in-person attendance is subject to NIH Campus Security review.
Registration will close for hybrid and in-person attendees on July 22, 2024, at 5 PM EST, and for virtual attendees on August 5, 2024, at 5 PM EST.
Q: Can I register for this meeting On-Site?
A: Unfortunately, we will not be able to accept walk-up registrations for this event. In order for anyone to attend this workshop in person, they would have to register before July, 22, 2024 at 5:00 PM EST.
Q: What should I do if my registration is pending or on hold?
A: If your registration is pending or on hold, please follow the instructions provided by the NHLBI Workshop Support Program so that you can learn the next steps.
Q: I require special accommodations. Who can I reach out to?
A: Please contact the NHLBI Workshop Support Program at
NHLBIWorkshopSupport@nih.gov to notify us of your requests at least (5) days before the meeting.
Q: How can I access the Natcher Conference Center?
A: NIH Natcher Arrival Instructions: Please review below important information on accessing the NIH Natcher Conference Center. There is no visitor parking near Building 45. We recommend visitors come through the NIH Visitor Gateway Center Bldg.66 and either walk to Building 45 (appx. 5 minutes, 0.1 miles) or take the internal NIH shuttle bus to the building.
Q: How can I access the NIH Main Campus?
Dressing Warmly for the Meeting Auditorium and Conference Center
Q: Why is dressing warmly for the meeting auditorium and conference center important?
A: The meeting auditorium and conference center may be colder to accommodate a larger number of people, so please dress in layers to stay comfortable.
Q: What should I wear to stay warm in the auditorium and conference center?
A: We recommend dressing in layers and bringing a sweater or jacket to stay warm during the meeting.
Q: Will heating be available in the auditorium and conference center?
A: While some heating may be available, the auditorium and conference center can still feel cool due to its size and the number of people present, so we advise in-person participants to dress in layers.
Q: Can I bring my own blanket or shawl to keep warm?
A: Yes, bringing your blanket or shawl to keep warm is fine. We want all participants to be comfortable during the meeting.
Q: Are there any specific dress code guidelines for staying warm in the auditorium and conference center?
A: There are no specific guidelines, but we recommend avoiding clothing that may be too noisy or distracting during the meeting.
Please remember these points and dress in layers for the auditorium and conference center meeting.
Directions to NIH Campus:
From I-495 (Capital Beltway) in Northern Virginia or Maryland
Take I-495 (Capital Beltway) westbound (Outer Loop) or northbound (Inner Loop). Take Exit 36 to Old Georgetown Road, south. Turn left onto West Cedar Lane. Yield right onto Rockville Pike. Follow the signs to the Main Visitor’s entrance on the right.
From Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)
Take the Baltimore-Washington Parkway south toward Washington, DC. At I-495 (Capital Beltway), head west toward Silver Spring/Bethesda. From I-495 (Capital Beltway), take Exit 34 onto Route 355 (Wisconsin Avenue/Rockville Pike) and head south toward Washington/Bethesda. Pass South Drive and turn right at NIH Gateway Drive.
From Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Head east on the Dulles Airport Access Road for approximately 13 miles. Exit onto I-495 (Capital Beltway), heading north to Bethesda/Baltimore. From I-495 (Capital Beltway), take Exit 34 onto Route 355 (Wisconsin Avenue/Rockville Pike) and head south toward Washington/Bethesda. Pass South Drive and turn right at NIH Gateway Drive.
From Ronal Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Head north on the George Washington Parkway for approximately 12 miles. Exit onto I-495 (Capital Beltway), heading north toward Maryland. From I-495 (Capital Beltway), go approximately 7 miles and take Exit 34 onto Route 355 (Wisconsin Avenue/Rockville Pike), and head south toward Washington/Bethesda. Pass South Drive and turn right at NIH Gateway Drive.
Visitor Gateway Center
Visitors must show one (1) form of identification (a government-issued photo ID - driver's license, passport, green card, etc.) and state their visit’s purpose.
The NIH Gateway Center is adjacent to the Medical Center Metro Station at the South Drive entrance to campus from Rockville Pike/Wisconsin Avenue (Route 355). It combines visitor parking, non-commercial vehicle inspection, and visitor ID processing, all in one location. The NIH will process all visitors, whether they enter the campus in vehicles or as pedestrians.
Pedestrians
For individuals arriving as pedestrians, the Gateway Center (Building 66) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, capable of handling single individuals to large busloads of visitors quickly and efficiently.
Vehicles
For visitors arriving in vehicles, on motorcycles or bicycles, the Gateway Vehicle Inspection Station (Building 66A), provides multiple inspection lanes and allows visitors to go through inspection and get a visitor badge in one centralized, efficient process. Vehicles enter the Gateway Center complex through a new roadway, "NIH Gateway Drive," just south of the intersection of the previous visitor entrance at South Drive and Rockville Pike. Vehicles that choose to bypass parking in MLP-11 will go through inspection and enter campus at Center Drive. (See Gateway Map:
http://www.ors.od.nih.gov/maps/Pages/Gateway-Center-Map.aspx.)
Gateway Center Vehicle Inspection (Building 66A):
Monday - Friday, 5 am - 10 pm
Taxies may enter campus via the Gateway Center Vehicle Inspection Facility.
Parking
Please note: Visitor parking is limited at NIH. Visitors are encouraged to use public transportation such as the Metrorail subway system, which has a convenient stop (Medical Center) on the NIH campus. Visit the
Metro site for information on fares and schedules.
The Gateway complex also includes MLP-11, a 342-space, multi-level underground parking garage. This "visitor-only" lot is the primary visitor parking for the NIH main campus. We strongly encourage all visitors who must drive to park in this garage, as visitor parking elsewhere on campus is limited. Vehicles parking in MLP-11 are outside of the perimeter security and will not go through vehicle inspection, reducing the amount of time it takes to get on campus.
Visitors parking in MLP-11 should proceed to the Gateway Center to get a visitor badge and either walk or take a shuttle bus to their destination. The NIH "limited" campus shuttle is the fastest shuttle to Building 35A.
The cost to park in MLP-11 is $2 per hour for the first three hours, $12 maximum for the entire day.
NIH Shuttle
Shuttle services are provided throughout the day on the NIH Campus for employees, patients, and visitors. Additional shuttle services are provided to the following locations: Woodglen, Neuroscience Center (NSC), White Flint I/II, Rockledge, Fisher's Lane and Medical Center. Shuttle services is available Monday - Friday, except Federal Holidays. Please visit:
NIH Shuttle Information Page.
Taking Public Transportation and Taxi:
Metrorail service is available from Washington's National Airport and from Union Station (railway). Take Metro's Red Line to the Medical Center Station. The station's escalators come out on the NIH campus. To get to Building 10, walk from the top of the escalators past the bus stops down South Drive. Cross the street and veer right onto Center Drive (past the Anchor). Remain on Center Drive as it veers left and uphill. The NIH Clinical Center (Building 10) is at the top of the hill on the left side of Center Drive. Or just take the NIH campus shuttle bus which provides service to Building 10 and stops at the Metro station every 15 to 20 minutes.
*Note: Meetings taking place off main campus registered attendees will have to catch the NIH shuttle to the appropriate off campus building.
*Visitor Access Requirement:
Visitors will be required to show one (1) form of identification (a government-issued photo ID-driver's license, passport, green card, etc.) and to state the purpose of their visit.
***REAL ID Enforcement Delayed Until May 7, 2025 – Extension Does Not Apply to Commercial Vehicle Operators***
As of May 7, 2025, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will no longer accept identification credentials that fail to meet the minimum requirements and issuance standards for federal recognition per the REAL ID Act of 2005. The Act establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits federal agencies, such as NIH, from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards that do not meet these standards.
Under the REAL ID ACT, NIH may only accept state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards that meet the standards required by the ACT to access our facilities. Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDL) issued by Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington are considered acceptable alternatives to REAL ID-compliant cards and will also be accepted for official REAL ID purposes. Most EDLs do not contain the star marking and this is acceptable. The EDLs do however state they are enhanced driver’s licenses and have an American flag either overlapping the picture or at the bottom right hand corner.
Individuals who come to the NIH’s Clinical Center for inpatient or outpatient services are not subject to the REAL ID Act of 2005.
Approved Forms of ID Required to Enter NIH Facilities as of May 7, 2025:
- REAL ID Driver’s License or State Identification Card or Enhanced Driver’s License
- Passport or Passport Card
- HSPD-12 PIV or CAC Card
- Permanent Resident Card
- Federally Recognized, Tribal-Issued Photo ID
- Canadian Provincial Driver's License or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Card
- USCIS Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- Other Less Common Documents (e.g. Merchant Mariner Credential)