About the Office of Public Health Research (OPHR) - Program Overview

Overview of Public Health Research at CDC

Robert F. Spengler, ScD, Director, OPHR

OPHR Mission
As part of the Office of Chief Science Officer, OPHR provides leadership, vision, and coordination for the CDC research program, both for research conducted within CDC (intramural) and for research conducted by external grantees and partners (extramural). OPHR achieves its mission through several core functions:

1. Developing and maintaining a CDC Health Protection Research Guide, 2006-2015 and enhancing and leveraging resources for research;
2. Evaluating and monitoring CDC’s overall research portfolio progress in meeting the CDC research agenda and health impact goals;
3. Enhancing CDC extramural research by developing, supporting and training in standardized best practices across CDC for the grant life-cycle; and
4. Developing and supporting new research initiatives and peer review and grants management activities for cross-cutting research and public health priorities.

Research Support and Peer Review
CDC uses grants and cooperative agreements mechanisms to support extramural research projects. All extramural research applications to CDC are peer reviewed. Under the peer review process, applications undergo two levels of review. The initial merit review is conducted by a panel of external experts and overseen by a Scientific Review Administrator. The purpose of the secondary review is to consider programmatic and policy priorities in addition to the merit evaluations and rankings from the primary review. The secondary review is performed either by senior federal officials or an advisory committee whose members are external to CDC. For more detail see the CDC peer review policy.

Grants and cooperative agreements are administered by scientific staff known as Program Administrators. In addition to the administration of research projects, Program Administrators interact with scientific investigators, assist with program planning and development, evaluate grantees’ scientific progress, and identify opportunities for future research.

Given the breadth and magnitude of the CDC mission, it is crucial that the most promising and high-quality research projects are selected and supported. OPHR provides a central focus for policy development, guidance, support and training in best practices for peer review and extramural research across CDC.

The Future of Public Health Research
We hope this website offers CDC scientists, staff, and the external research community with a valuable source of information on public health research at CDC. We have provided links to CDC websites, Department of Health and Human Services policies and guidelines, and NIH websites and documents where appropriate and necessary.

Research conducted and supported by CDC remains closely integrated with public health services, programs, and responses (see figure). Research improves CDC and partner services that result in greater health impact. Through OPHR’s leadership and CDC’s continued investments, public health research will provide new understanding, new tools, new evidence-based interventions, and effective dissemination strategies that result in real and important impacts on the health of individuals and communities.

Research conducted and supported by CDC remains closely integrated with public health services, programs, and responses (see figure). Research improves CDC and partner services that result in greater health impact. Through OPHR’s leadership and CDC’s continued  investments, public health research will provide new understanding, new tools, new evidence-based interventions, and effective dissemination strategies that result in real and important impacts on the health of individuals and communities.

Thank You – Robert Spengler