Office of the Director at the National Institutes of Health

The Office of the Director (OD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is responsible for setting policy for NIH, overseeing the operations of its institutes and centers, and managing cross-cutting programs that span multiple NIH components. The OD plays a crucial role in strategic direction, coordination, and communication across NIH.

Official Site

Mission

The mission of the Office of the Director is to provide leadership and coordination for the NIH's wide-ranging biomedical and health-related research. It aims to advance scientific discoveries, translate these findings into medical practice, and ensure the health of the nation through a broad, integrated approach to research.[1]

Parent organization

The Office of the Director is directly under the NIH, which falls within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.[2]

Legislation

The NIH, including the OD, operates under the authority of various pieces of legislation, notably the Public Health Service Act, with specific roles and responsibilities outlined over time by acts like the NIH Reform Act of 2006.[3]

Number of employees

The OD employs a range of staff including the NIH Director, Deputy Directors, and various office heads, though exact numbers are not publicly detailed.

Organization structure

The OD includes several key offices and divisions:

List of programs

  • Leading NIH-wide strategic planning.
  • Managing the NIH Common Fund for high-impact research.
  • Overseeing NIH's response to public health emergencies.
  • Coordinating research on cross-cutting health issues.
  • Implementing policies on inclusivity, ethics, and scientific conduct

Last total enacted budget

The OD does not have a separate budget; it operates within the broader NIH budget. For FY 2023, NIH's total budget was approximately $47.4 billion.[4]

Leader

The leader of the Office of the Director is the NIH Director.

Services provided

The OD provides leadership in setting research priorities, managing NIH resources, developing policy, and promoting scientific integrity. It also coordinates large-scale research initiatives, oversees the ethical conduct of research, and manages the distribution of research grants and contracts.[5]

Regulations overseen

The OD oversees NIH-wide policies, including those related to research ethics, data sharing, and the management of research grants. It also plays a role in implementing federal health research policies.

Headquarters address

9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA

Website

https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/office-director

Wikipedia article

wikipedia:Office of the Director (NIH)