Networking health: learning from others, taking the lead.

The Internet provides one of the most compelling examples of the way in which government research investments can, in time, lead to innovations of broad social and economic impact. This paper reviews the history of the Internet's evolution, emphasizing in particular its relationship to biomedical computing and to the nation's health care system. Here I summarize current national research programs, emphasizing the need for greater involvement by the medical research community and leadership from federal health care agencies.