About Us

Our Mission

The Office of Extramural Research (OER) provides the corporate framework for NIH research administration, ensuring scientific integrity, public accountability, and effective stewardship of the NIH extramural research portfolio. It oversees activities related, but not limited to, high-profile digital platforms, grant compliance, peer review, communications with the extramural community, scientific misconduct, human subjects protection, and laboratory animal welfare.

Overview 

The OER is an office within the NIH Office of the Director. OER supports the entire NIH extramural research community by providing policy, guidance, systems, and other support to the recipient community as well as to the 24 NIH Institutes and Centers that award grants. OER serves as a vital interface for the biomedical research community by guiding investigators and their institutions through the process of attaining grants funding and helping them understand and navigate through federal policies and procedures.

There are several offices and divisions within OER that each have their own responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide authoritative resources for the corporate framework for all phases of NIH extramural research funding (e.g., eRA, NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts, NIH Data Book)
• Implement and inform infrastructure, policies, processes, and procedures that enable the execution of NIH extramural research programs (e.g., Funding Opportunities, staff training, Loan Repayment Program, SBIR/STTR)
• Ensure the integrity of and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies that govern NIH extramural research funding. (e.g., awards oversight, research misconduct, peer review integrity, clinical trials, animal welfare)
• Develop, assess, and enhance NIH policies and programs that support the training, career development and education of a diverse biomedical research workforce, incorporating analyses of national workforce trends and needs.