[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6617-6619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1808]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


National Institutes of the Health

    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 and 65 FR 20477, April 2000, and redesignated 
from Part HN as Part N at 60 FR 56606, November 9, 1995) is amendment 
as set forth below to reflect the establishment of the Center on 
Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD), National Institutes of 
Health. the Public health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281 et seq.) as 
amended by P.L. 106-525, the Minority Health and Health Disparities 
research and Education Act of 2000, provides the authorities of the 
center and abolishes the Office of research on Minority Health (ORMH) 
within the Office of the Director, NIH. The functions and resources of 
the ORMH are transferred to the newly established NCMHD.
    Section N-B, Organization and Functions, is amended as follows: (1) 
After the heading National Center for Complementary and Alternative 
Medicine (ND, formerly HND), insert the following:
    National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NE, 
formerly HNE), (1) Advises the NIH director and Institute and Center 
((C) directors on the development of NIH-wide policy issues related to 
minority health disparities research, research on other health 
disparities, and related research training and serves as principal 
liaison with other agencies of the PHS, DHHS, and Federal Government; 
(2) develops, in consultation with the NIH Director, IC directors, and 
the advisory council, a comprehensive strategic plan that identifies 
and establishes objectives, priorities, budgets, and policy statement 
governing the conduct and support of all NIH minority health 
disparities research, research on other health disparities, and related 
research training activities; (3) evaluates NIH minority health 
disparities research programs and other health disparities research 
programs that are carried out by the ICs; (4) administers funds for the 
support of minority health disparities research and other health 
disparities research, through grant-making and through leveraging the 
programs of the ICs; (5) provides staff support to the NCMHD Advisory 
Council and tans-NIH coordination Committee for minority health 
disparities research and other health disparities research at NIH; (6) 
develops and maintains a Health Disparities Information (HDI) data base 
on intramural and extramural activities of relevance to the Center's 
mission and prepares special or recurring reports as needed; (7) 
develops culturally appropriate strategies to assure that the public is 
informed about various diseases and conditions that affect racial and 
ethnic minorities and other ``health disparity populations'' and issues 
and related NIH research activities and advances; (8) informs the 
scientific and medical communities and other

[[Page 6618]]

Government agencies of NIH health disparities activities and involves 
them in efforts to expand and encourage minority health disparities 
research, research on other disparities, and related research training 
program; (9) promotes the growth and quality of minority health 
disparities research and research on other health disparities through 
improved resource allocation at the NIH, expanded collaboration among 
the NIH ICs and among academic institutions, improving the research 
infrastructure at minority serving institutions, and through the 
development of innovative programs such as a Centers of Excellence 
Program, a research endowment program, an extramural loan repayment 
program, and programs promoting Federal, State and local cooperation; 
(10) provides leadership in expanding the pool of experienced 
investigators in the areas of minority health disparities research and 
research on other health disparities; and (11) in consultation with the 
NIH Director, implements Title I of the Minority Health and Health 
Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000, as it relates to the 
NCMHD.
    Office of the Director (NE1, formerly HNE1), (1) Plans, directs, 
coordinates, and evaluates the activities and programs of the NCMHD; 
(2) coordinates with the NIH Institutes and Centers and other Federal 
agencies on programs of relevance to the mission of the Center; (3) 
advises the NIH Director, the NIH Institutes and Centers, and others on 
matters relating to minority health disparities research, research on 
other health disparities, and related research training, including 
efforts to increase the participation of minority groups and subjects 
of clinical research; (4) plans and supervises the implementation and 
evaluation of administrative and management services and support to the 
programs and activities of the NCMHD; (5) directs and supervises the 
formulation, presentation, and execution of the Center's budget; (6) 
informs the scientific and medical communities and other Government 
agencies of NIH activities relevant to minority health disparities 
research and research on other health disparities and involves them in 
efforts to expand and encourage research and training programs in these 
areas.
    Office of Finance and Administration (NE12, formerly HNE12). (1) 
Provides, secures, and negotiates regarding the resources and services 
needed for the operations of the Center, including the Office of the 
Director; (2) manages the Center's operational budget and performs a 
variety of management analysis functions; (3) assists in planning and 
formulating the Center's research budget and executes the budget; (4) 
implements a comprehensive program of personnel management services for 
the Center, within the authority delegated by the NIH Director; (5) 
provides leadership in the Center in the areas of computer information 
technology and in the use of computers as communication tools to 
include assisting in the development and monitoring of databases, in 
particular the Health Disparities Information (HDI) System, and 
monitors the development of the Center's website.
    Office of Extramural Activities (NE13, formerly HNE13). (1) 
Provides staff support to the NCHMD Advisory Council, the 
congressionally authorized group that advises, assists, consults with, 
and make recommendations to the Center Director, and provides the 
second level of peer review of grant applications; (2) provides 
oversight for and/or coordinates scientific review activities with the 
staff of NCMHD programs and with the Center for Scientific Review, NIH 
and/or with offices of review within relevant NIH Institutes and 
Centers, as required; (3) provides policy direction and coordination 
for planning and executing initial scientific and technical reviews of 
applications for grants and contracts conducted within the Center, as 
required; (4) coordinates the identification and selection of qualified 
experts to serve on review committees and assists with the review of 
grant applications and contract proposals, as required; (5) serves as 
an information and coordination center for all grant applications and 
contract proposals pending review by the unit; (6) supervises the 
scientific review administrators for the initial scientific review of 
grant proposals reviewed within NCHMD; (7) maintains uniform policies 
and procedures governing technical review of grant applications and 
contract proposals within NCHMD; (8) provides administrative and 
technical support in the development, execution, and monitoring of 
grant and contract programs, as required; (9) provides oversight and 
direction for the grants management functions of the NCHMD; and (10) 
maintains liaison with grants and contracts management staffs in other 
Institutes and Centers, with central OD/NIH offices, grantees, and 
contractors.
    Office of Communications and Public Liaison (NE14, formerly HNE14). 
(1) Disseminates information on scientific and policy developments 
related to the mission of the Center; (2) plans and implements a 
comprehensive information and communications program; (3) coordinates 
with the NIH Institutes and Centers on minority health disparities 
research and research on other health disparities for the purposes of 
serving as a clearinghouse and focal point for disseminating 
information on the goals and advances in these programs; (4) maintains 
liaison with the NIH Office of Communications and Public Liaison; (5) 
provides oversight for the maintenance of the Center's website; and (6) 
provides leadership and coordinates with the Division of Scientific 
Planning and Analysis on issues related to trans-NIH conferences and/or 
other conferences and workshops of relevance to the mission of the 
Center.
    Office of Research Training and Capacity Building (NE15, formerly 
HNE15). (1) Provides leadership in implementing the trans-NIH strategic 
plan to improve the effectiveness of all NIH programs aimed at 
increasing minority participation in biomedical research; (2) develops 
and implements outreach and science education initiatives aimed at 
increasing the participating of underrepresented minorities in 
biomedical research; (3) develops and implements initiatives aimed at 
building health disparity research capacity at minority institutions, 
minority-serving institutions, and at designated centers of excellence; 
(4) develops and implements an extramural loan repayment program with a 
focus on expanding the cadre of clinical investigators engaged in 
minority health disparities research and research on other health 
disparities; and (5) creates innovative initiatives aimed at increasing 
underrepresented minority investigators' access to NIH funding 
opportunities.
    Division of Research (NE2, formerly HNE2). (1) Advises the Center 
Director on matters relating to minority health disparities research 
and research on other health disparities, including enhancing the 
participation of underrepresented minorities in research; (2) advises 
the Center Director during the consultative process of establishing 
NIH-wide goals for minority health disparities research, research on 
other health disparities, research and training, and on the development 
of the trans-NIH health disparities strategic plan; (3) provides 
leadership in implementing the trans-NIH health disparities strategic 
plan to improve the effectiveness of all NIH programs aimed at 
increasing NIH-supported research on diseases and conditions that 
disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities and other

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``health disparity groups,''; and (4) creates initiatives to enhance 
inclusion as well as targeted minority health disparities research and 
research on other health disparities.
    Division of Community-Based Research and Outreach (NE3, formerly 
HNE3). (1) Develops and implements partnering initiatives to promote 
cooperation among Federal agencies, State, local, tribal, and regional 
public health agencies, and private entities in minority health 
disparities research and research on other health disparities as 
required by the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and 
Education Act of 2000; (2) develops and implements a community-based 
research program for the National Institutes of Health with a focus on 
disease prevention, implementation of health messages in relevant 
racial and ethnic minority and disadvantaged communities, and 
elucidating barriers to effective health care, etc; and (3) coordinates 
with appropriate DHHS organizations and other Federal entities on 
programs of relevance to the mission of the Center.
    Division of Scientific Planning and Policy Analysis (NE4, formerly 
HNE4). (1) Advises the Center Director regarding the analysis and 
evaluation of Center-supported programs, as requested; (2) represents 
the Center Director, as requested, on the trans-NIH Coordinating 
Committee during the consultative process of identifying annual trans-
NIH priorities in regard to minority health disparities research, 
research training and capacity building, and research on other health 
disparities, including the allocation of resources in support of 
identified priorities; (3) provides program support for trans-NIH 
conferences and/or other conferences and workshops of relevance to the 
mission of the Center; (4) develops major policy and program 
recommendations, as requested by the Director, NIH, based on an 
evaluation of the status of support and accomplishments of NCMHD-
supported programs; (5) conducts the Center's legislative liaison 
activities; and (6) serves as the clearinghouse and focal point for 
interpreting the goals and results of Center-supported research 
programs and projects for disseminating information to Congress and the 
Executive Branch.
    Office of Scientific and Strategic Planning (NE42, formerly HNE42). 
(1) Coordinates, as requested, with the Center's Director on the 
development of a trans-NIH health disparities strategic plan; (2) 
assists and advises the Director in preparation for Congressional 
testimony and hearings and in the development of justifications for 
resource appropriations; (3) develops annual reports reflecting the 
status of trans-NIH implementation of initiatives, including executive 
orders, related to minority health disparities research and research on 
other health disparities, including those designed to enhance research 
and training capacity at minority and minority-serving institutions; 
and (4) conducts the Center's Freedom of Information and Privacy Act 
activities.
    Office of Program Analysis and Data Management (NE43, formerly 
HNE43). (1) Coordinates, as required, with the Office of Scientific 
Planning, NCMHD, on the development of annual reports reflecting the 
status of trans-NIH implementation of initiatives, including executive 
orders, related to minority health disparities research and research on 
other health disparities, including those designed to enhance research 
and training capacity at minority and minority-serving institutions; 
(2) represents the Center, as requested, in the development, 
implementation, and monitoring of a trans-NIH coding system for 
identifying ``targeted'' and ``inclusion'' research and training 
initiatives as it relates to ``health disparity populations'' as well 
as identifying infrastructure and capacity building awards made to 
minority and minority-serving institutions; (3) collects and maintains 
data on trans-NIH programs and activities aimed at reducing and/or 
eliminating health disparities; (4) provides oversight for the 
development of the Health Disparities Information (HDI) System, a 
database for identifying and tracking all NIH-supported minority health 
disparities research, research on other health disparities, research 
training, and construction projects data; (5) acquires data and 
performs analyses for use in NCMHD planning and development; and (6) 
coordinates the presentation of the Center's plans and reports.
    Delegations of Authority Statement: All delegations and 
redelegations of authority to offices and employees of NIH that 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: January 16, 2001.
Donna E. Shalala,
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 01-1808 Filed 1-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M