The Office of Communications and Government Relations (OCGR) is the office with overall responsibility for coordinating efforts to interpret and disseminate the goals and results of NIAID research programs and projects to numerous audiences, including
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Immediate Office of the Director
- Prepares news releases, statements, and other vehicles to communicate proactively about NIAID research findings and initiatives
- Helps the media find NIAID subject-matter experts and other authoritative sources of information on infectious and immunologic diseases
- Develops short- and long-term communications policies, objectives, and strategies to support the NIAID mission
- Produces written and audiovisual content for the NIAID website, intranet, and social media sites
- Writes content for brochures, pamphlets, and fact sheets on a variety of topics related to the NIAID mission
- Builds and sustains partnerships with appropriate patient-advocacy groups and professional societies
- Coordinates NIAID lectures, webinars, and press conferences
Freedom of Information Act Office
- Manages and coordinates all activities associated with requests to NIAID for information and records submitted under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) programs
- Analyzes the nature and scope of all requests and determines the appropriate NIAID and NIH officials to be involved in preparing and/or coordinating the response
- Reviews all records to determine the information and documents that can be released under current law and regulations
- Designs and providing training to NIAID staff involved in responding to FOIA cases with respect to requirements, policies, regulations, and procedures
- Ensures organizational compliance with the legal requirements of these Acts
Legislative Affairs and Correspondence Management Branch
The Legislative Affairs and Correspondence Management Branch (LACMB) directs and coordinates legislative liaison, tracking, and analysis activities for NIAID. LACMB prepares material for numerous policy, legislative, and budget-related briefings and manages the Executive Secretariat (controlled correspondence), public inquiry functions, and public liaison activities for the Institute.
New Media and Web Policy Branch
The New Media and Web Policy Branch (NMWPB) develops, implements, and maintains communications technology infrastructure (for the Internet and intranet) designed to deliver information on NIAID research initiatives and accomplishments, as well as information important to the general public.
NMWPB responsibilities include
- Managing responses to communications-related requests as well as emerging issues that require a collaborative response from NIAID
- Developing Institute-wide guidelines, standards, policies, and procedures related to the creation and maintenance of Web products
- Establishing Web content standards that ensure that the tone and organization of the content of NIAID’s Web products are appropriate both for the Institute’s image and for the audiences NIAID serves
- Serving as the business owner of NIAID websites and managing their redesign based on NIAID strategic plans for content development, in addition to new information architecture, usability testing and guidelines, information from website user satisfaction surveys, and website statistics
- Promoting NIAID's Web products to all appropriate audiences, including the public, business partners, employees, researchers, and the media
- Serving as the principal interface with the NIAID Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Computational Biology (OCICB) and other technical services providers to maintain and build upon Web-based information services and features as well as future systems capabilities
- Serving as a resource regarding Web matters to the Institute, its Divisions, and its offices