About the Office of the Director

Key points

The Office of the Director (OD) promotes scientific leadership and integrity by supporting agency-wide initiatives that align with CDC's overarching scientific priorities and its commitment to equitable and innovative public health action. The OD accomplishes this by coordinating efforts to work alongside CDC programs to develop, advance, and disseminate innovative science and technology that can be used to inform public health policy and practice.

What we do

OD supports the overall work of OS to provide scientific guidance, policies, consultations, technical assistance, tools, and resources to CDC leadership and programs to help build scientific capacity and capability to support the agency's strategic efforts to promote health; prevent disease, injury, and disability; and prepare and respond to emerging health threats.

Priorities

  • Lead and coordinate cross-cutting scientific priorities that address emerging needs and gaps.
  • Advise CDC leadership and staff on scientific issues including identifying strategic priorities with maximum impact for populations with the greatest need.
  • Comply with policies and protocols.
  • Help systems and processes to promote and recognize high-quality science and public health practice efficiently and rapidly.
  • Advance innovation and collaboration through extramural research coordination.

Our work

The OD promotes the quality, integrity, and innovation of CDC science to improve the public's health by:

  • Serving as a champion for scientific excellence and scientific integrity
  • Integrating health equity principles, values, and standards into scientific research and products
  • Partnering with industry, academia, non-profits, and government agencies to facilitate the development of CDC's research portfolio into products and services to improve public health.
  • Employing new approaches and solutions to public health challenges