NIH' s First CIO to Head Newly Formed CIT

Joan Chamberlain, CIT Information Office

NIH director Dr. Harold Varmus has named Alan S. Graeff the first chief information officer (CIO) of NIH. In his new role, Graeff will head the newly formed Center for Information Technology (CIT), which combines the Division of Computer Research and Technology, the Office of Information Resources Management, and the Telecommunications Branch. His vision is to develop long-term strategies for the best use of IT resources and to continue the improvement of CIT's services to NIH and to other agencies.

By creating the center and appointing a CIO, Varmus implemented two major recommendations of the NIH information technology central committee on the management of NIH's computing, networking and telecommunications resources. The committee recommended appointment of a chief information officer to head a center that would address all existing NIH information technology and related functions and clearly define responsibilities for central leadership and service across all NIH. Varmus will be appointing a board of governors that will work with Graeff to define the CIT mission.

"The CIO appointment and the formation of the Center for Information Technology will facilitate the development of effective strategies, policies and standards for information technology, a resource that is critical to the efficient conduct of NIH research and administration," Varmus said.

Graeff, who headed the interoperability group of the ITCC, has a wide range of experience developing successful IT projects that have a major impact on how biomedical research is conducted at NIH. "This experience gives Al a clear understanding of the needs of both scientists and administrators for information technology. He brings a record of outstanding leadership and management of information systems to his new role as CIO," added Varmus.

Since 1995, Graeff served as chief of the Clinical Center's information systems department, where he oversaw a major IT reorganization that introduced a centralized infrastructure based on technical standards, reliable architecture, and high levels of customer support. He created a unified support structure for IT in the Clinical Center's diverse environment of clinical research, patient services and administration.

In his prior position as chief of the technical systems section in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Graeff was responsible for building the institute's first wide area network comprising 12 locations across the country and serving 1,400 computer users. He also designed and implemented an NIAID acquisition workflow system that streamlined the institute's acquisition and planning processes.

In earlier positions, Graeff worked as a biologist for the National Cancer Institute's Metabolism Branch and NIAID's Laboratory of Cellular Immunology. He holds a B.S. in distributed sciences from American University.

"I look forward to the tremendous challenges and possibilities that I know exist for IT at NIH and to a continued improvement of services for all our customers, both at NIH and other agencies," said Graeff. "We will continue the excellence that has become the hallmark of IT at the NIH, and will strive for outcomes that are driven by customers' needs and our commitment to meeting them."