About the Office of Science Planning and Assessment

The Office of Science Planning and Assessment (OSPA) is part of NCI's Office of the Director.

OSPA's primary responsibilities are to develop and coordinate NCI's scientific planning and evaluation activities. OSPA staff do this through consultation, guidance, analysis, and document preparation in support of various Institute-wide and division-level programs. These critical activities enable NCI to identify needs and opportunities for cancer research, to establish research goals, and develop sound plans for reaching those goals.

OSPA carries out its mission through the activities of four groups:

• Science Planning Branch
• Program Assessment Branch
• Program Implementation Branch
• Office of Women's Health

Science Planning Branch

The OSPA Science Planning Branch:

• Works with the Director, NCI staff, and the cancer research and advocacy community to develop and update NCI's strategic plan and to communicate NCI's goals, opportunities, and directions to a broad audience.
• Coordinates, develops, designs, and produces NCI's Annual Plan and Budget Proposal, The Nation's Investment in Cancer Research.
• Develops and produces a substantial part of the NCI's Congressional Justification, the official appropriation request that is submitted to Congress each year.
• Works with NCI Financial Management Branch to develop informational materials related to planning and budget and to respond to requests for information.
• Participates in NIH-wide planning efforts throughout the year.

Program Assessment Branch

The OSPA Program Assessment Branch:

• Works closely with NCI staff to provide information and analyses for planning NCI's research agenda and assessing progress.
• Coordinates the development of organ-specific cancer research agendas to accelerate progress in cancer research, and reports progress on those agendas (About PRGs).
• Provides access to the results of research portfolio analyses and analytical tools — Cancer Research Portfolio Web site.
• Participates in NIH-wide evaluation efforts throughout the year.
• Coordinates NCI requests for NIH evaluation set-aside funds.

Program Implementation Branch

The OSPA Program Implementation Branch:

• Facilitates, guides, and tracks implementation of NCI strategic priority areas;
• Designs and develops novel strategies and initiatives to accomplish NCI priorities; and
• Serves as a focal point for trans-NCI implementation efforts.

Office of Women's Health

The Office of Women's Health:

• Plans, evaluates, and coordinates NCI programs and activities in women's health to ensure that research on cancers in women remains an integral part of the research agenda.
• Interacts with scientific and medical communities and organizations interested in women's health.
• Provides a central resource for information about NCI's activities and initiatives in women's health research.
• Office of Women's Health Web site
• NCI Women’s Health Report 2001-2002

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Last updated 05.04.04 (fsc))