[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 145 (Friday, July 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39178-39179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18851]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    Part C (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) of the 
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority of 
the Department of Health and Human Services (45 FR 67772-76, dated 
October 14, 1980, and corrected at 45 FR 69296, October 20, 1980, as 
amended most recently at 66 FR 38289-38290, dated July 23, 2001) is 
amended to retitle and revise the functional statement of the Arctic 
Investigations Program (AIP), National Center for Infectious Diseases 
(NCID).
    Section C-B, Organization and Functions, is hereby amended as 
follows:
    Delete in its entirety the title and functional statement for the 
Arctic Investigations Program (CFJ) and insert the following:
    Arctic Investigations Program (CRJ). (1) Conducts surveillance of 
infectious diseases and conditions that impact the health of all 
residents of the circumpolar region with special emphasis on diseases 
of high incidence and concern among indigenous peoples of these 
regions; (2) designs and conducts epidemiologic studies to investigate 
the causes and risk factors for infectious diseases among residents of 
the Arctic and sub-Arctic, and conducts long-term studies to determine 
sequelae of various etiologic agents; (3) conducts laboratory research 
to evaluate existing laboratory tests, modifies methods as needed to 
apply the technology in the Arctic health-care setting, and develops 
new methods for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of health problems; 
(4) designs and implements studies to evaluate strategies for control 
of infectious diseases among residents and travelers in the Arctic in 
collaboration with, the State of Alaska, foreign ministries of health, 
universities, National Institutes of Health, organizations in Alaska, 
and other programs within CDC; (5) provides epidemiologic, statistical, 
computer, and laboratory consultation to organizations in Alaska, other 
health providers, and public and private health agencies; (6) assists 
local, national, and international agencies and organizations in 
developing guidelines for infectious disease prevention and control 
applicable to Arctic residents; (7) disseminates information on 
problems of particular import for residents of circumpolar regions; (8) 
provides training and technological assistance in epidemiology, 
statistics, and laboratory methodology to health-care personnel working 
or planning to conduct research in the Arctic; (9) participates in the 
Arctic Council proceedings, the International Union for Circumpolar 
activities and other international collaborative efforts to improve the 
health of all circumpolar populations; and (10) and the predominate 
Federal agency conducting infectious diseases research in the Arctic, 
provides local input as needed to the Office of the Director CDC, the 
Interagency Arctic Research and Policy Committee, Arctic Research 
Commission, and National Science Foundation as established under the 
U.S. Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984.
    Office of the Director (CRJ1). (1) Manages, prioritizes, directs, 
and coordinates the activities of the Arctic Investigation Program 
(AIP); (2) provides leadership and guidance on policy, program planning 
and development, program management, and operations; (3) provides AIP-
wide administrative services, and coordinates or assures coordination 
with the appropriate NCID and CDC staff offices on administrative and 
program matters; (4) provides liaison with other Governmental agencies, 
international organizations, and other outside groups; (5) advises and 
represents the Director,

[[Page 39179]]

NCID on policy matters concerning American Indians and Alaska Natives 
and on Arctic health issues in general; (6) responsible for budget 
planning, formulation, program budget execution, monitoring, and 
response to budget audits and reviews; (7) responsible for facility 
management, security, and employee safety; (8) responsible for the 
editing, clearance, and tracking of manuscripts for publication, 
abstracts for presentation, and protocols for Institutional Review 
Board (IRB) and human subjects review; (9) provides technical aid, 
consultation, and training to AIP staff on health education, behavioral 
science, distance education, community organization, and electronic, 
print, and oral communications; and sponsors and participates in 
national and international meetings and conferences.
    Epidemiology Activity (CRJ2). (1) Conducts epidemic investigations, 
surveillance, and special studies to investigate the causes, risk 
factors, and prevention of infection diseases among residents of the 
Arctic and sub-Arctic; (2) analyzes demographic and disease information 
and other risk factors that contribute to disease morbidity and 
mortality; (3) develops, evaluates, and implements prevention and 
control strategies; (4) provides consultation and technical assistance 
on surveillance and epidemiologic investigations to other agencies and 
public and private health-care providers; (5) together with the 
Laboratory and the Biostatistics and Information Branches develops 
study protocols and coordinates collaborative research projects 
involving other agencies, universities, and outside researchers; (6) 
provides training for Epidemic Intelligence Service Officers, visiting 
fellows and students; (7) advises AIP staff on health education/
communication strategies; and (8) prepares reports and manuscripts for 
publication.
    Laboratory Research Activity (CRJ3). (1) Conducts microbiologic, 
immunologic, and molecular-based studies directed toward the detection, 
identification, characterization, tracking, and understanding of the 
pathogenic mechanisms of infectious agents causing diseases of high 
incidence among residence of the circumpolar regions; (2) establishes 
and maintains laboratory surveillance and quality assurance procedures 
for microbial agents targeted for prevention and control; (3) 
responsible for the safety and security of the laboratory, and 
maintenance of the security and integrity of a computerized specimen 
bank; (4) evaluates existing laboratory assays, or develops new assays 
for the detection or measurement of antibodies, antigens, nucleic 
acids, or other markers of microbial agents responsible for infectious 
diseases and chronic diseases with known or possible infectious 
etiology; (5) provides laboratory support for epidemiologic studies and 
outbreak investigations initiated by the Epidemiology Branch and serves 
as a resource laboratory for the State of Alaska, Section of 
Laboratories, the Alaska Native Medical Center, and laboratories of 
other Alaska Native Health Corporations; (6) responsible for 
maintaining the necessary licensures (NRC, CLIA and Select Agents) 
required for laboratory studies conducted at AIP; (7) Provides training 
for visiting fellows, graduate, and undergraduate students pursuing 
careers in public health laboratory practice; (8) prepares reports, 
abstracts, and manuscripts for publication; and (9) provides general 
laboratory consultation to other agencies, public and private health 
care providers, and researchers conducting studies in Arctic regions.
    Biostatistics and Information Management Activity (CRJ4). (1) 
Develops and maintains computerized database of information gathered as 
part of AIP's epidemiologic and laboratory studies; (2) provides 
statistical methodology, participates in the design and analysis, and 
performs data entry for Program's epidemiologic investigations and 
surveillance systems; (3) together with the Epidemiology and the 
Laboratory Branches, designs disease reporting systems for ongoing 
surveillance; (4) provides statistical consultation for Program staff 
and other CDC and public health officials; (5) is responsible for the 
integrity, security, and maintenance of computerized database for a 
serum bank consisting of 500,000 aliquots of serum from 100,000 Alaskan 
Natives; (6) is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and 
upgrading of all computer systems; (7) provides computer training and 
user support for all program staff; (8) assists in acquisition, 
translation, and analysis of computerized data from external sources; 
and (9) prepares reports and manuscripts for publication and provides 
consultation to other agencies, public and private health-care 
providers, and researchers.

    Dated: July 13, 2001.
Jeffrey P. Koplan,
Director.
[FR Doc. 01-18851 Filed 7-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-18-M