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Divisions and Offices

NCATS is comprised of several divisions and offices to guide its translational research activities.

NCATS Divisions

Division of Pre-Clinical Innovation

The Division of Pre-Clinical Innovation (DPI) plans, conducts and uses both internal and contract resources to advance collaborative research projects across the pre-clinical phases of the translational science spectrum. Specifically, this division:

  • Plans, conducts and collaborates on research to develop new methods and technologies to enhance pre-clinical processes.
  • Plans, conducts and collaborates on research to evaluate existing and developing approaches, technologies, and processes in the pre-clinical spectrum.
  • Supports training programs relevant to pre-clinical phases of translational science.
  • Allocates DPI resources to pre-clinical extramural and intramural investigators.
  • Collaborates with other NIH Institutes and Centers and the scientists they support.
  • Consults with stakeholders, including patients, industry and regulators.

Division of Clinical Innovation

The Division of Clinical Innovation (DCI) plans, conducts and supports research across the clinical phases of the translational science spectrum. This division:

  • Plans, conducts and supports research to develop new methods and technologies to enhance clinical processes.
  • Plans, conducts and supports research to evaluate existing and developing approaches, technologies, and processes in the clinical spectrum.
  • Supports training programs relevant to clinical phases of translational science.
  • Allocates DCI resources to clinical and translational infrastructure and investigators.
  • Collaborates with other NIH Institutes and Centers and the scientists they support.
  • Consults with stakeholders, including patients, industry and regulators.

Offices within NCATS

Office of the Director

The NCATS Office of the Director develops and provides leadership for the Center’s translational science programs, manages and directs executive level activities, and provides policy guidance and coordination for each of the Center’s components.

Executive Office

The NCATS Executive Office directs the administrative and financial operations management of the Center. Specifically, it develops, administers and oversees the Center’s internal control processes, policy and procedures for administrative, program management and information technology. It also oversees personnel management and workforce planning.

Office of Grants Management and Scientific Review

Staff in the Office of Grants Management and Scientific Review advise NCATS leadership on issues related to policy and procedures for extramural activities. Additionally, they oversee and direct scientific review and grants management activities at NCATS. The office also is responsible for coordinating small business research and other special grant programs as well as managing the operations of the NCATS Advisory Council and Cures Acceleration Network Review Board.

Office of Rare Diseases Research

The Office of Rare Diseases Research guides and coordinates NIH-wide activities involving research for a broad array of rare diseases. Specific duties include:

  • Managing the NIH Rare Diseases and Orphan Products Coordinating Committee (Trans-NIH Rare Diseases Working Group).
  • Develops and maintains a centralized database on rare diseases.
  • Coordinates and provides liaison with organizations worldwide concerned with rare diseases research and orphan products development.
  • Advises the Office of the Director on matters related to NIH-sponsored research involving rare diseases.
  • Responds to information and policy requests about rare diseases.

Office of Policy, Communications and Strategic Alliances

The effort to spur scientific, medical and technological innovation must be met with equally innovative strategies for policy, communications and strategic alliances. The NCATS Office of Policy, Communications and Strategic Alliances (OPCSA) manages these three vital functions within one office that develops and communicates critical priorities for NCATS.

Policy

The OPCSA Policy branch analyzes issues related to translational science and works with stakeholders to develop and implement effective science policy solutions. Such stakeholders include the other NIH Institutes and Centers, patient groups, other governmental agencies, nonprofits and the private sector. Staff members work to address any policy issues that are relevant to the spectrum of translational research — from initial target identification to first-in-human application of small molecules, biologics, diagnostics and devices. Staff members also are exploring the use of the flexible research authority provided through the Cures Acceleration Network.

In addition, the policy branch is responsible for strategic planning, evaluation and legislative issues for NCATS.

Communications

The OPCSA Communications branch promotes the mission and initiatives of NCATS. Communications staff members are committed to creating and disseminating strategic messages and materials that engage and inform various audiences and that promote NCATS programs, policies and alliances. Staff members direct and manage the development, design and content of the Center's website, official print publications, news releases and media requests, social media and other electronic outreach, presentations, and stakeholder events. Additionally, the communications branch coordinates responses to inquiries from the scientific community as well as the general public.

Strategic Alliances

The OPCSA Strategic Alliances branch establishes and advances public-private partnerships that will speed the delivery of new drugs, diagnostics and medical devices to patients. Working in concert with non-profit and private sectors, staff members develop innovative approaches, policies and methods to reduce, remove or bypass bottlenecks in translational science collaborations. Staff members also study why barriers to collaboration exist and what new models can help overcome them. Additionally, they analyze successful academic and industry partnerships to help determine if those models of collaboration can be adopted by the Center.

Organizational Chart

The NCATS organizational chart provides an overview of the Center's structure and components.