Frequently Asked Questions
Nomination Process
How many nominations do you receive, and how should they be addressed?
We receive between 75 and 100 complete nominations. They should be directed to the attention of the NIH Director, Dr. Elias Zerhouni, but sent to Palladian Partners, attn: 2009 COPR Selection Process, 8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 200, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
How do I find out whether my nomination package has been received, is complete, and has been added to the pool?
Nominees should contact Emily Krebbs at COPR1@palladianpartners.com with all selection-related questions.
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Letters of Recommendation
In selecting someone to write a letter of recommendation, is it preferable to choose someone who represents a larger entity (i.e., a national organization instead of a local one)?
The letters of recommendation are designed to give insight into how you meet the nomination criteria, your experience, and your constituency, so it is best to choose someone who can provide that kind of information, regardless of entity size. It is most helpful to have letters from individuals who the candidate knows well. The letters should give NIH information on the candidate’s work in the community, leadership ability, and collaboration skills.
Someone writing a letter of recommendation for me sent it directly to me. Should I just include it in my nomination?
You can include the recommendation that was sent to you with your nomination.
May a letter of recommendation come from someone who works at NIH?
Yes. The main thing is to obtain letters of recommendation that address your ability to meet the selection criteria and explain why you would be an asset to the Council.
What is the optimal number of letters of recommendation?
Candidates should submit two letters of recommendation.
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Selection Considerations
What impact are the upcoming federal elections likely to have on the COPR?
The upcoming election is not likely to have a major impact on the COPR, which will continue to move forward with its current activities. COPR members are highly regarded among NIH leadership, and they remain involved in key priority areas for the agency.
How does the geographical area of the nominee affect the selection process?
We seek to have good geographical representation and are constantly working to balance this. Geography is one component, but it is not the deciding factor. Other considerations include professional background, constituency, and racial and ethnic diversity.
If I work for a private organization that has an NIH contract, can I be on the COPR?
In most situations this would not be a problem. However, certain restrictions may apply based on an individual’s previous relationship with NIH. Also, there could be conflict-of-interest “appearance” issues if the contractor performed functions with the same Institute or Center the Council member would advise. Situations will be reviewed on a case-by-case situation.
Do you consider nominees who are in the earlier stages of their careers, such as graduate students?
Absolutely. We have a variety of ages and experience on the Council and all bring a unique wealth of understanding and perspective, which is what makes the COPR so rich.
Can a recipient of an NIH grant be considered for COPR membership?
Several past and current COPR members are NIH-supported investigators. The only caveat is that investigators, like all COPR members, must put aside their specific scientific interest when engaging in COPR discussions and activities. Also, like all COPR members, scientists on the COPR must be engaged directly with the public.
Can someone who is not a health care professional but is active in the community become a member of the COPR?
We would welcome your nomination. Your credentials as a member of the public are extremely important to us, and we have previously had COPR members who did not have health professional backgrounds.
What federal employment process must COPR nominees undergo?
COPR members are special government employees on the days on which they serve as a COPR member. As special government employees and members of a federal advisory committee, they must complete human resources documentation as well as a financial disclosure form to demonstrate that they have no conflicts of interest. Typically, nominees attend the April COPR meeting as conditional appointees, and they are confirmed as special government employees by the October meeting.
Is a current special government employee eligible to become a COPR member?
A special government employee currently serving on a national advisory council and/or a program advisory committee is eligible to serve on the COPR as long as service does not violate other existing policies, such as excessive service.
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Patient Advocacy
How does NIH treat patient advocacy?
The COPR is very involved with ensuring that patients are well informed and have the opportunity to provide input on the research process. Patient advocacy representatives are invited to COPR meetings, and their broad concerns are included in the issues that are taken to the Director.
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COPR Work Groups and Activities
What are some of the COPR work groups?
Current COPR work groups include the Role of the Public in Research Work Group, the Agenda Work Group, and the Communications Work Group, which is exploring creative and varied ways to get information to the public.
What are some COPR accomplishments?
The Council will soon be celebrating its 10-year anniversary. During its first decade, the Council has made a significant impact on NIH’s outreach and public engagement efforts. One very recent COPR accomplishment involved the NIH strategic vision, which initially included three “Ps”: preemptive, predictive, and personalized. The COPR ensured that a fourth “P,” participatory, was added to the list to emphasize the importance of public involvement in NIH programs.
The COPR has also helped develop language for funding opportunity announcements that involve issues of public interest; contributed to the NIH communications strategy through brochures, newsletters, Web sites, videocasts, and podcasts; participated in the NIH Public Trust Initiative and efforts to enhance the agency’s peer-review process; and participated in planning sessions for priority areas, such as the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, disease categorization, and nanotechnology This year, the Partners in Research Award program credited the COPR for its work on engaging communities in research. Finally, a current COPR member and a COPR alumnus recently published an article in a peer-reviewed journal.
COPR accomplishments also include formal reports as well as recommendations made at each Council meeting. You may view reports at http://copr.nih.gov/reports.asp. Meeting summaries, which contain Council discussions and recommendations, are available at http://copr.nih.gov/meetings.asp.
What kinds of activities do COPR Members participate in? Does the Council conduct any programs outside Washington, DC?
COPR Members engage in many outreach activities, including making presentations to groups wishing to learn more about NIH. These presentations are geared toward the specific interests of the groups and might include such topics as becoming involved in clinical trials, the role of the COPR, and the benefits of clinical research. Outreach may also include working with NIH to develop more comprehensive outreach programs.
Many COPR members are actively involved in health communications activities in their communities. Some disseminate information from health promotion programs, such as the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Red Dress campaign. COPR members also collect input on NIH research questions from their community organizations and promote public input opportunities among their constituents. NIH provides COPR members with materials to use in their communities. More activities are listed at http://copr.nih.gov/activities.asp.
What role do COPR members have in terms of working with other advisory groups at NIH?
COPR members have been connected with other advisory groups at NIH under various capacities. For example a COPR liaison works closely with the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director (ACD), and an ACD liaison works with the COPR. The two liaisons share information and perspectives throughout the year and make presentations on current activities to their sister committees. COPR members have also participated in meetings of the National Cancer Institute Director’s Consumer Liaison Group and have presented to other advisory councils of the NIH Institutes and Centers. Most recently, a COPR alumna was invited to join the National Advisory Research Resources Council of the National Center for Research Resources.
What is the role of the COPR in international activities?
The COPR is connected to the international community. For example, representatives from a public involvement program in England attended a past COPR meeting.
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Member Time Commitment
How much time do COPR members typically spend on COPR-related work?
COPR members attend two in-person meetings each year on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. The April meeting includes an orientation day for new members, a work group day, and a formal meeting day with the NIH Director. The October meeting includes a work group day and a formal meeting day. In addition, COPR work group co-chairs typically spend approximately 10 hours each month on work group tasks, and work group members generally devote approximately 2–5 hours per month to work group activities.
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COPR Associates Program
What is involved with being a COPR Associate? How do I bring issues to the attention of the Council?
COPR Associates are added to the COPR listserv and receive information about emerging issues and activities at NIH. They are also invited to participate on review panels, and we are currently looking at even more engagement for the Associates. In the meantime, e-mail any suggestions to Emily Krebbs of Palladian Partners at COPR1@palladianpartners.com, and she will forward them to NIH for the Council.
I am a COPR Associate. Will my nomination be automatically resubmitted for the next nomination process?
Your previous nomination will not be automatically resubmitted. You do have the option of resubmitting your previous nomination. This year, the selection criteria have changed slightly, and you should ensure your nomination responds accordingly. Please see the Selection Criteria on the nomination form.
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