[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 34 (Monday, February 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8583-8584]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4305]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    Part N, 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 63 FR 8656, February 20, 1998, and 
redesignated from Part HN as Part N at 60 FR 56605, November 9, 1995), 
is amended as set forth below to rename the Office of Communications 
(NA8, formerly HNA8) and establish organizational components for 
current activities within the Office.
    Section N-B, Organization and Functions, is amended by replacing 
the current sections NA8 through NA824 (formerly HNA8 through HNA824) 
with the following:
    Office of Communications and Public Liaison (NA8, formerly HNA8). 
(1) Plans and directs activities to communicate information about NIH 
programs and accomplishments to the general public, the scientific 
community, the medical profession, and public advocacy groups; (2) 
advises the Director of NIH on effective communications strategies; (3) 
represents the Director of NIH in relations with the media and 
scientific publications; (4) coordinates communications policy and 
activities with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public 
Affairs and with the Institutes and Centers of NIH; (5) directs the 
implementation of the Freedom of Information Act at NIH; (6) 
facilitates

[[Page 8584]]

public participation in NIH activities through the Council of Public 
Representatives and other means.
    Office of the Director (NA81, formerly HNA81). (1) Directs and 
coordinates the operations of the Office of Communications and Public 
Liaison; (2) functions as spokesman for the Director of NIH; (3) 
operates the NIH public liaison program; and (4) provides staff support 
for the Council of Public Representatives.
    Public Information Office (NA82, formerly HNA82). (1) Advises the 
Associate Director for Communications on the public information and 
public affairs activities of NIH; (2) produces and reviews a wide 
variety of publications and media presentations about NIH programs and 
research for the general public and the scientific community; (3) 
assists NIH components to produce effective public information 
publications and presentations; (4) prepares speeches, articles, and 
other presentations for officials of NIH and the Office of the 
Secretary; and (5) supports media interactions by the Director, NIH, 
and other NIH scientists and officials.
    Office of the Director (NA821, formerly HNA821). Plans and directs 
the operations of the Public Information Office.
    New Media Branch (NA822, formerly HNA822). (1) Serves the central 
news contact for NIH and maintains contact with members of the 
electronic and print media; (2) prepares and issues feature materials 
describing NIH programs; (3) produces audio tapes of health messages 
and interviews with NIH scientists for use by radio stations; (4) 
manages press conferences for the Director of NIH and other scientists 
and officials; (5) keeps the NIH leadership informed about media 
coverage of NIH issues and programs; and (6) clears press releases and 
audiovisual productions with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Public Affairs before distribution.
    Editorial Operations Branch (NA824, formerly HNA824). (1) Plans and 
produces NIH-wide publications; (2) reviews articles and publications 
produced by Institutes and Centers for consistency with NIH policy and 
program objectives; (3) clears NIH publications with the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs; and (4) publishes The NIH 
Record, the NIH Calendar of Events, the NIH Almanac, and the NIH 
Publications List and Information Index.
    Science Communications Branch (NA825, formerly HNA825). (1) 
Facilitates the understanding of scientific concepts by the media and 
general public: (2) publishes health information newsletters such as 
Word on Health; (3) conducts periodic seminars for science writers and 
staffs similar activities, such as residence programs for science 
writers; and (4) keeps up-to-date information on research advances by 
NIH scientists and grantees.
    Online Information Branch (NA826, formerly HNA826). (1) Coordinates 
and supports the use of networked computers to provide information 
about NIH within the Office of Communications and Public Liaison; (2) 
manages the NIH World Wide Web Coordinating Committee, which provides 
leadership for the design and content of the NIH Web site; (3) works 
with other relevant offices and committees in establishing operational 
standards and guidelines for Web sites at NIH; (4) has direct 
responsibility for several major areas of the NIH home page that 
address the special needs of health care professionals, patients, 
members of the press, the public and employees; (5) manages the 
processing of electronic mail sent to the NIH home page; (6) provides 
Web support services and guidance to other OD offices including the 
Director, NIH; and (7) conducts special studies on the use of the NIH 
Web, including evaluation projects.
    Special Projects Branch (NA827, formerly HNA827). (1) Plans, 
organizes, and conducts special public events and functions; (2) 
conducts tours and orientations for a wide variety of domestic and 
international groups visiting NIH; (3) operates the NIH Visitor 
Information Center; and (4) conducts NIH-wide voluntary efforts such as 
the Combined Federal Campaign.
    Freedom of Information Office (NA83, formerly HNA83). (1) Manages 
the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) at NIH; (2) 
provides FOIA policy guidance, training, and advice to Institutes, 
Centers, and components of the Office of the Director, NIH; (3) 
responds to selected, highly sensitive FOIA requests; (4) coordinates 
the response to FOIA requests involving more than one NIH component; 
(5) issues all denials under the FOIA for NIH; (6) provides the NIH 
position if FOIA decisions are appealed to the Assistant Secretary for 
Public Affairs; and (7) helps the public interested in NIH to use the 
FOIA.
    NIH History Office and Museum (NA84, formerly HNA84). (1) Provides 
guidance to Institutes and Centers regarding the preservation of 
historical materials such as documents, photographs, and artifacts; (2) 
provides the Director, NIH, and other senior staff with oral or written 
historical perspectives on current policy issues; (3) prepares oral and 
written histories and historical presentations primarily on NIH-
conducted or -sponsored biomedical research; (4) maintains selected 
historical materials; (5) manages the DeWitt Stetten, Jr., Museum of 
Medical Research, which: (a) Collects, preserves, and exhibits 
biomedical research instruments, technologies, and memorabilia, 
especially those related to NIH; and (b) educates the public about the 
process and achievements of biomedical research through exhibits and 
publications that generally focus on the research of NIH investigators.
    Delegations of Authority Statement: All delegations and 
redelegations of authority to offices and employees of NIH which were 
in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this 
reorganization and are consistent with this reorganization shall 
continue in effect, pending further redelegation.

    Dated: February 10, 1999.
Harold Varmus,
Director, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 99-4305 Filed 2-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M