HHS Makes CCID Organization Official

Published: March 23, 2007

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt has officially approved the reorganization of CDC's Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases (CCID). Effective immediately, CCID is officially realigned into a new organizational structure with four national centers and two consolidated organizations designed to provide services across all four new centers.

"With this approval, CDC's major reorganizations are complete and we are now in a much better position to prevent infectious diseases and to respond to national and international emerging threats," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Our CCID fundamental mission has not changed; it will always be about improving public health by preventing infectious diseases," said RADM Mitchell L. Cohen, director, CCID. "But we are very pleased that through this reorganization, we now have a much stronger alignment of our people and resources to increase our efficiency and impact on public health. Our realigned scientists and program staff who may not have worked together in the past are now in an environment that fosters increased collaboration and sharing of best practices. I am certain this increased collaboration will lead to greater innovation," said Cohen.

CCID's new structure now includes the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), directed by RADM Anne Schuchat, MD, USPHS; the National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (NCZVED), directed by Lonnie King, DVM; the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), directed by Kevin Fenton, MD, PhD; and the National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases (NCPDCID), directed by Rima Khabbaz, MD.

In addition, there are two consolidated organizations that provide service across CCID. The Strategic Business Unit (SBU) provides support for facilities management, Freedom of Information Act requests, property management, records management, travel, personnel, staff training, procurements, conference logistics, and committee management.

The Strategic Science and Program Unit (SSPU), designed to enhance collaboration and coordination of key scientific and issues management functions through both staffed and virtual components, contains the Extramural Research Program Office; Human Subjects Research Protection Office; Technology Transfer Office, Office of Informatics; Extramural Non-Research Program Activities; Regulatory Affairs Office; Enterprise Communication Office; Office of Safety Management; and Space Planning, Advising, and Coordination working groups.

The official new organizational structure enhances alignment of CCID work with CDC goals. Of the 21 identified CDC Health Protection Goals, CCID has primary responsibility for five—one People Goal (Children ages 4-11), two Places Goals (Healthy Healthcare Settings and Healthy Institutions), and two Preparedness Goals (Pandemic Preparedness and Emerging Infections Preparedness).

What are the benefits of the new CCID organizational structure?

NCIRD now has an interdisciplinary immunization program that brings together vaccine-preventable disease science and research with immunization program activities. This new center will simplify public/consumer access to vaccine-preventable disease and immunization related information by creating one point of access. It will also assure coordination of surveillance and epidemiology activities related to vaccine-preventable diseases while strengthening linkages in planning and execution between some epidemiology and laboratory activities for a number of vaccine-preventable diseases through closer structural relationships.

NCZVED provides national and international scientific and programmatic leadership addressing zoonotic, vector-borne, foodborne, waterborne, mycotic, and related infections to identify, investigate, diagnose, treat, and prevent these diseases. NCZVED will focus on the continuing challenge of emerging and re-emerging zoonoses and the ecologies from which these diseases have emerged, while recognizing the importance of working collaboratively, not just across CDC and the traditional public health community, but also with agricultural, wildlife, companion animal, and environmental agencies and organizations.

NCHHSTP includes the realignment of viral hepatitis on the basis of shared risk factors and at-risk populations. The center will build on current strong integration of epidemiology, laboratory science, and intervention and prevention initiatives related to a broad range of STDs to enhance opportunities to develop and implement collaborative public health interventions with shared at-risk populations.

NCPDCID will provide greater focus on preparedness and response capacity for new and complex infectious disease outbreaks, and will manage and coordinate emerging infectious diseases, integrate laboratory groups, and facilitate increased quality and capacity in clinical laboratories. The center will serve as a focal point for engaging outside agencies and partners in quality laboratory systems and improved healthcare settings.