Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration (OPERA)

OPERA Organizational Chart (PDF)

Mission

OPERA provides leadership and oversight in grants management policy and compliance, intellectual property, and OMB clearances to the extramural research community and NIH extramural staff through policy development, expert guidance, analysis, outreach, and related information dissemination in order to promote effective stewardship of NIH extramural funds in support of health research.

Major Responsibilities:

• NIH extramural policies and procedures
• NIH Grants Policy Statement
• NIH Grant and Training Application Forms
• Intellectual Property
• OMB Clearances under the Paperwork Reduction Act
• Grants compliance and oversight
• Financial Conflict of Interest
• NIH implementation of Federal-wide initiatives

Senior Leadership:

Director: Michelle Bulls 
Special Assistant: Shellie Wilburn
Executive Assistant: Jacqueline Helfer

Senior Advisor: Vacant

Offices/Divisions:

Project Clearance Branch

The Project Clearance Branch is the NIH control point for the Office of Management and Budget clearance functions concerning public information collection activities.

• Tawanda Abdelmouti, Program Analyst
• Marisa Fountain, Program Specialist

Division of Grants Policy 

The Division of Grants Policy (DGP) implements new NIH and Federal-wide initiatives, maintains NIH policy source documents such as the Grants Policy Statement, and provides leadership and support to address emerging issues associated with grants policy, electronic research administration, and grants management.

Director: Samuel Ashe
Staff:

• Stefanie Harris, Assistant Grants Policy Officer
• Anthony Corio, Assistant Grants Policy Officer
• Kristin Ta, Assistant Grants Policy Officer
• Lauren Ruane, Assistant Grants Policy Officer 

Division of Grants Compliance and Oversight 

The Division of Grants Compliance and Oversight (DGCO) is the focal point to advance external compliance with policy and legislative mandates and enhance compliance oversight by recipient institutions. The DGCO also ensures and evaluates the efficient and effective management of extramural resources.

Director: Diane Dean 
Staff:

• Samantha Tempchin, Assistant Grants Compliance Officer
• Joel Snyderman, Assistant Grants Compliance Officer
• Kathy Hancock, Assistant Grants Compliance Officer
• Sahar Rais, Assistant Grants Compliance Officer

Division of Extramural Inventions and Technology Resources 

The Division of Extramural Inventions and Technology Resources (DEITR) works under the auspices of OPERA to develop, implement, and monitor extramural intellectual property policies and invention reporting under the Bayh-Dole Act. The Division also promotes the proper utilization of NIH-funded patents and inventions in extramural programs, and facilitates the distribution and sharing of research resources.

Director: Ann Hammersla
Staff: 

• Mary Fran Deutsch, J.D., Assistant Extramural Inventions Policy Officer
• John Salzman, M.S., M.P.M., Assistant Extramural Inventions Policy Officer
• Scott Cooper, J.D., Assistant Extramural Inventions Policy Officer
• Carolyn Mosby, Program Analyst

Contact Us:

Direct OPERA phone line: 301-435-0949

Division of Grants Policy
Division of Grants Compliance
Division of Extramural Inventions and Technology Resources 
Project Clearance Branch

* Contractor