[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25012]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 11, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
 

National Institutes of Health; Statement of Organization, 
Functions, and Delegations of Authority

    Part H, Chapter HN (National Institutes of Health) of the Statement 
of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority for the 
Department of Health and Human Services (40 FR 22859, May 27, 1975, as 
amended most recently at 59 FR 42066, August 16, 1994) is amended to 
reflect the reorganization of the National Institute of General Medical 
Sciences (NIGMS) (HNS) as follows: (1) Establish the Office of 
Administrative Management (HNS12); Office of Research Reports (HNS13); 
Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation (HNS14); and the Office of 
Scientific Review (HNS15); and (2) establish the Division of 
Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry (HNS2); Division of 
Genetics and Developmental Biology (HNS3); Division of Cell Biology and 
Biophysics (HNS4); Division of Minority Opportunities in Research 
(HNS5); and the Division of Extramural Activities (HNS6).
    Section HN-B, Organization and Functions is amended as follows: (1) 
Under the heading National Institute of General Medical Sciences (HNS), 
insert the following:
    Office of Administrative Management (HNS12). (1) Advises the 
Director on administrative matters; (2) plans and directs management 
functions of the Institute including financial management, personnel 
management, material procurement, office services, management analysis, 
and reports and statistics relating to the Institute's administrative 
activities; (3) interprets, analyzes, and implements administrative 
orders and management concepts affecting the mission of the Institute; 
and (4) maintains and operates data collection, processing, and 
retrieval systems covering all aspects of NIGMS programs.
    Office of Research Reports (HNS13). (1) Plans and directs the 
preparation, utilization, and distribution of scientific and technical 
reports and summaries of research accomplishments and research support 
to the biomedical community and specialized interest groups; (2) 
responds to inquiries form Federal and non-Federal sectors of the 
public concerning activities and programs of the Institute, and 
develops materials used in responding to such inquiries; (3) maintains 
liaison with specialized groups which share a community of interest; 
collaborates in the development of health education materials; advises 
the Director on probable reaction of such groups to the Institute's 
decisions on program and management matters; (4) assures that the 
Institute meets the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and 
Departmental and NIH regulations pertaining thereto; (5) coordinates 
activities of the Editorial Review Board and assures compliance with 
NIH and Departmental procedures for technical and other professional 
manuscripts and speeches; and (6) plans and coordinates the interchange 
of research findings and knowledge essential to the development and 
progress of the Institute's programs.
    Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation (HNS14). (1) Advises the 
Director on the development, analysis, and evaluation of the 
Institute's programs; (2) advises the Director and principal staff in 
the development of strategic, research, and operational program plans 
to meet the long-range goals and immediate objectives of the Institute, 
and provides staff support to, and liaison with program managers in 
coordinating, integrating, and articulating these goals and strategies; 
(3) develops the Institute's evaluation plan and program and oversees 
its application, including evaluating the focus and impact of ongoing 
programs and providing analytical reports of program trends and future 
forecasts; and (4) analyzes program data required to maintain 
continuous review of program progress and evaluation of program needs 
and projects the impact of allocation options in support of resource 
allocation decisions to meet those needs.
    Office of Scientific Review (HNS15). (1) Directs and carries out 
the scientific and technical merit review of research training, 
research support, research center, research conference, and research 
program project grant applications; (2) originates and coordinates 
policies and procedures of the Cellular and Molecular Basis of Disease, 
Genetic Basis of Disease, Pharmacological Sciences review committees, 
Minority Access to Research Careers and Minority Biomedical Research 
Support review subcommittees, and any necessary ad hoc committees; (3) 
conducts the search for the most qualified and representative 
individuals to serve as members of review committees and site visitors; 
and (4) organizes and coordinates site visits and scientific and 
technical merit reviews.
    Division of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry 
(HNS2). (1) Plans, directs, and administers a program of research 
grants, contracts, and institutional and individual fellowship awards 
designed to support research and research training that: (a) Enhances 
therapeutics through increased understanding of drug action and 
improved methodologies for the generation of drugs, (b) fosters the 
integration and application of physiological and biochemical research 
in addressing clinical problems such as those that occur as a result of 
trauma and burns; (c) fosters the development and application of 
chemical and biochemical techniques to biological problems, as well as 
the development and application of theory derived from chemical and 
biochemical principles; (2) analyzes national research efforts in 
anesthesiology, biochemistry, biotechnology, chemistry, pharmacology, 
physiology, trauma, burns, and related areas, and makes recommendations 
to assist the National Advisory General Medical Sciences Council, other 
advisory committees and groups appointed to participate in decisions 
about areas of new or continuing program emphasis, or to determine 
relative scientific merit of grant applications; (3) identifies and 
stimulates research areas in anesthesiology, biochemistry, 
biotechnology, chemistry, pharmacology, physiology, trauma, and burn in 
which increased effort would most effectively contribute to better 
understanding of biological processes in normal and diseased states and 
to the generation of new therapies; (4) manages an inter-institute 
intramural postdoctoral staff fellowship program with research efforts 
in pharmacological sciences and clinical pharmacology; and (5) advises 
universities, other centers of medical research, and professional and 
lay organizations about the content and research needs of the Division.
    Division of Genetics and Developmental Biology (HNS3). (1) Plans 
and directs a program of research grants, contracts, and institutional 
and individual fellowship awards to support research and research 
training directed toward gaining a better understanding of the 
processes and mechanisms of inheritance with the objective of designing 
better methods of prevention, treatment, and control of genetic disease 
in humans; (2) analyzes national research efforts on the problem of 
human genetic disease as a generalized phenomenon involving common 
mechanisms amenable to study on the basis of a broad fundamental 
research approach, and makes recommendations to assist the National 
Advisory General Medical Sciences Council or other advisory committees 
or groups appointed to (a) participate in decisions about new or 
continuing areas of program emphasis, or (b) determine the relative 
scientific merit of applications for grant support; (3) maintains 
surveillance over new research developments and identifies the need for 
research in the area of genetics and developmental biology; and (4) 
advises universities, other centers of medical research, and 
professional and lay organizations about research needs and 
requirements of the Division.
    Division of Cell Biology and Biophysics (HNS4). (1) Plans and 
directs a program of research grants, contracts, and training awards to 
support research on the assembly, structure and function of cellular 
components using biochemical, biophysical, chemical, genetic and 
mathematical methods; (an understanding of these structures and how 
they interact to maintain the function of the cell and ultimately the 
collection of these cells to form the whole organism will make 
significant contributions to the understanding, control and cure of 
human diseases); (2) analyzes national research efforts directed toward 
the study of the above and makes recommendations to assist the National 
Advisory General Medical Sciences Council or other advisory committees 
or appointed groups to (a) participate in decisions about new or 
continuing areas of program emphasis, or (b) determine the relative 
ranking of applications for grant support; (3) maintains surveillance 
over new research developments and identifies need for research in the 
areas of the cell biology and biophysics; and (4) advises and 
communicates with professional organizations and the lay public about 
the research goals and needs of the Division.
    Division of Minority Opportunities in Research (HNS5). (1) Serves 
as the central focal point for the Institute's efforts to increase the 
number of individuals in minority groups participating in biomedical 
research; (2) develops and maintains overall NIGMS plans and policies 
for minority research and research training programs; (3) implements 
strategic plans to enable the NIGMS to improve the effectiveness of its 
programs aimed at increasing participation of minorities in biomedical 
research; (4) coordinates Institute policies related to minority 
research and research training programs; (5) serves liaison with groups 
at NIH, DHHS, and other agencies as well as the extramural scientific 
community on these matters; and (6) oversees, coordinates, and 
supervises the Minority Access to Research Careers Branch and the 
Minority Biomedical Research Support Branch, as well as other 
initiatives.
    Division of Extramural Activities (HNS6). (1) Maintains an overview 
of the scientific and financial status of the Institute's programs to 
produce effective advice to the Director in the planning, development, 
and scientific administration of Institute program areas; (2) 
stimulates interaction and exchange of information between program 
areas to promote understanding of Institute's long-range plans for 
program balance; (3) interprets effect of proposals for long-term 
support on projected Institute plans; (4) recommends budget allocations 
for the various programs; (5) represents the Institute at Extramural 
Program Management Committee (EPMC) and other meetings dealing with 
proposed or revised grant policy and procedures; (6) monitors and acts 
as liaison with other institutes and divisions for activities relating 
to grant application assignments, foreign travel, and foreign grants; 
(7) advises staff about regulatory and legislative developments 
affecting program operations and gives guidance on operational policies 
to assure uniformity of management; and (8) supervises grants 
management, processing, and award activities.

    Dated: September 22, 1994.
Harold Varmus,
Director, NIH.
[FR Doc. 94-25012 Filed 10-7-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M