Overview

The Office of the Chief Science Officer (OCSO) provides service and support to the CDC scientists as they work to protect people’s health and improve the quality of their lives.  Our focus is on strengthening the quality and integrity of CDC’s science.  Furthermore, by fostering innovative and successful scientific collaborations and partnerships we are also working towards enhancing the relevance of our science and its health impact.

Our office is also a home to the Office of Public Health Research, which facilitates research prioritization, planning, and evaluation across both intramural and extramural programs; Office for Scientific Regulatory Services, which provides guidance about federally mandated regulations and clearance functions that affect our science and practice; and Public Health Ethics Program, which assists our scientists with difficult ethical issues by using a framework of ethical principles and values in a transparent and inclusive process.

Formal and legal agency-level authorities within OCSO are:

• Senior Scientific Clearance Official
• Agency Research Integrity Liaison Officer
• Institutional Official for Animal Research
• Institutional Official for Human Research Subjects
• Emergency Use Authorization designee
• Designated Federal Official, Ethics Subcommittee, Advisory Committee to the Director, CDC
• OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer
• Confidentiality Officer and Privacy Officer

Four pillars of OCSO priorities and responsibilities are:

• Serve and support CDC scientists & scientific disciplines
• Enhance the quality, integrity of and access to CDC science
• Enhance the relevance and impact of CDC science
• Foster innovative and successful scientific collaborations and partnerships