Lana Skirboll, Ph.D.,
Associate Director,
Office of Science Policy and Technology Transfer, NIAID
Dr. Lana Skirboll discussed what GPRA is and why it is important to NIH. Specifically GPRA requires all government agencies to fulfill GPRA’s requisites of long-range and annual plans and reports.
Dr. Skirboll’s group is defining goals and measurable indicators for every NIH program. Quantitative assessments are a major feature of GPRA, though the qualitative aspects of research are also being taken into account and will likely be a major feature of NIH’s report.
Dr. Skirboll told Council that once performance goals and indicators for research and research capacity are in place, agencies will begin reporting out performance every year. In January, NIH plans to make its performance plan public, with the first performance report expected in 1999. GPRA’s goals are to improve public confidence in government, agency efficiency and effectiveness, and Congress’ ability to determine budgets and authorities.
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