Offices & Divisions

Director: Kathie Reed, M.S.
reedk@mail.nih.gov

The NIA Office of Planning, Analysis, and Evaluation (OPAE) guides, facilitates, and supports the Institute’s planning, portfolio analysis, evaluation, and reporting activities. OPAE staff work closely with Institute leadership and scientific staff and team regularly with NIA’s legislative liaison, budget, and communications offices. 

Planning

Because of its serendipitous nature, we cannot plan science – but we can plan for it. The primary goals of our science planning and priority setting activities are to:

• Identify new and emerging areas of scientific opportunity, identify research gaps, and propose new research directions.
• Integrate science planning and priority setting with resource allocation decisions.
• Maintain the kind of flexibility that will enable Institute programs to keep pace with rapid scientific and technological progress.

Portfolio Analysis

OPAE staff categorize, map, and analyze NIA’s scientific research, resources, and accomplishments in support of priority-setting, planning, evaluation, and reporting efforts.

Evaluation

We provide consultation for NIA staff on evaluation design and implementation and assistance in applying for evaluation set-aside funds.

Reporting

We coordinate and develop NIA responses to information requests from NIH, the Department of Health and Human Services, Congress, advocacy groups, and the public.

See NIA’s Strategic Directions