An official website of the United States government
The Office of the Director is the central office at NIH, and is responsible for setting policy for NIH and for planning, managing, and coordinating the programs and activities of all the NIH components.
The NIH Director plays an active role in shaping the agency's activities and outlook. With a unique and critical perspective on the whole of the NIH, the Director is responsible for providing leadership to the Institutes and Centers, and for constantly identifying needs and opportunities, especially for efforts that involve multiple Institutes.
The NIH Director
The NIH Director plays an active role in shaping the agency's activities and outlook.
NIH Leadership
NIH leadership plays an active role in shaping the agency’s research planning, activities, and outlook.
NIH Organization
The National Institutes of Health is made up of 27 different components called Institutes and Centers.
Administration and Services
Office of the Principal Deputy Director
The Office of the Principal Deputy Director, officially the Immediate Office of the Director (IMOD), led by NIH Principal Deputy Director, manages the day-to-day operations for the Office of the Director.
The office manages several Administration and Services Offices:
- The Center for Cooperative Resolution
- The Executive Secretariat
- The NIH Ethics Office
- Office of the Chief Information Officer
- Office of the Director Executive Office (NIH Only)
- Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy (NIH Only)
Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL)
The Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL) oversees communications on NIH programs and activities to the public, the media, and stakeholder communities.
Freedom of Information Act Office
The Freedom of Information Act provides individuals with a right to access to records in the possession of the federal government. The government may withhold information pursuant to the nine exemptions and three exclusions contained in the Act.
Management and Policy
Office of Legislative Policy and Analysis (OLPA)
OLPA provides essential information, advice, and guidance on Congressional actions affecting NIH to the NIH Director, the Office of the Director, NIH’s Institutes and Centers, and the broader NIH community.
OD Office of Science Policy (OSP)
The NIH Office of Science Policy (OSP) works across the biomedical research enterprise to ensure NIH policy evolves in tandem with rapidly advancing science and technology.
OD Office of Management (OM)
Directs and coordinates the Institute's resource allocation and management improvement processes by overseeing: (1) program planning and financial management; (2) acquisition management; (3) information resource management; (4) management policy and procedure development, interpretation, and implementation; (5) the provision of general administrative services throughout the Institute; and (6) personnel operations. The Office of Management oversees several offices:
- Office of Acquisition and Logistics Management (OALM)
- Office of Budget (OB)
- Office of Financial Management (OFM)
- Office of Human Resources (OHR)
- Office of Management Assessment (OMA)
- Office of Research Facilities (ORF)
- Office of Research Services (ORS)
- Office of Strategic Planning and Management Operations (OSPMO)
Research, Funding and Coordination
Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI)
The Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives identifies and reports on research that represents important areas of emerging scientific opportunities, rising public health challenges, or knowledge gaps that deserve special emphasis. DPCPSI oversees a number of offices:
- All of Us Research Program Office
- Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program Office
- Office of Administrative Management (OAM)
- Office of AIDS Research (OAR)
- Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)
- Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS)
- Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
- Office of Disease Prevention (ODP)
- Office of Evaluation, Performance, and Reporting (OEPR)
- Office of Nutrition Research (ONR)
- Office of Portfolio Analysis (OPA)
- Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP)
- Office of Research Innovation, Validation, and Application (ORIVA)
- Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH)
- Office of Strategic Coordination (OSC)
- Tribal Health Research Office (THRO)
Office of Extramural Research (OER)
On behalf of the Director, the Office of Extramural Research provides guidance to institutes in research and training programs conducted through extramural (grant, contract, cooperative agreement) programs.
Office of Intramural Research (OIR)
On behalf of the Director, the Office of Intramural Research coordinates research conducted directly by NIH personnel through intramural programs. OIR is comprised of several offices and programs:
- Office of Animal Care and Use (OACU)
- Office of Clinical Research Education and Collaboration Outreach (OCRECO)
- Office of Human Subjects Research Protections (OHSRP)
- Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE)
- Office of NIH History and Stetten Museum (ONHM)
- Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) (NIH Only)