NIH 1998 Almanac/The Organization/CIT/
Center for Information Technology: Research Programs
The CIT consists of the Office of Computing Resources and Services (OCRS), the Office
of Computational Bioscience (OCB), Office of Telecommunications Management (OTM) and the
Office of Information Resources Management (OIRM).
Office of Computing Resources and Services
The Computing Facilities Branch (CFB) manages, operates, and supports central computing
resources for NIH enterprise use in both scientific and administrative programs and for
use by other Government agencies. Current resources include: an MVS mainframe system; a
Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI) system, a Convex supercomputer the Advanced Laboratory
Workstation System; and (with the Computational Bioscience and Engineering Laboratory)
Intel and IBM SP highly parallel supercomputers. In addition, CFB provides
interoperability among these resources and with other computing facilities.
The Customer Services Branch (CSB) supplies centralized, integrated computer support
services to the NIH community and to CIT’s customers in other Federal agencies. CSB
advocates customer needs to CIT management. CSB represents CIT services and policies to
customers; maintains and operates the Technical Assistance Support Center--CIT’s
central point of contact for computing support; consults with customers to resolve
computing problems; provides advice regarding PC, Macintosh, LAN and mainframe use;
establishes customer accounts for CIT systems; develops and manages the CIT computer
training program; and distributes technical information, vendor documentation, and certain
software.
The Information Systems Branch (ISB) provides requirements analysis, database design,
systems analysis, and programming services. ISB develops and maintains many CIT-supported
NIH production database applications and provides direct user support for online
production database systems and information processing systems; tracks and evaluates
emerging database technologies; collaborates with the ICs in application development to
determine the feasibility of new database technologies; provides application programming
for ICD systems that require the use of proven DBMS technologies; and develops user
documentation to support database applications.
The Network Systems Branch (NSB) furnishes networking hardware and software
infrastructure and support, which allow diverse computer systems within NIH to share
information with each other and with national and international communities. NSB designs,
engineers, supports, and administers the campus-wide network--NIHnet, and provides support
and guidance for the NIH community regarding the use of local area networks (LANs).
The Technology Resources Branch (TRB) offers computing and communication support
services to the NIH community via contract staff. TRB services include: on-site LAN and
desktop support; information technology assessment; Web publishing; technical consulting;
CERTAN management; and evaluation/support for programs for sequence analysis and use of
the World Wide Web for sequence analysis.
The Statistical Support Staff (SSS) supplies support to the biostatisticians and
biomedical researchers; conducts consultations on quantitative analysis and associated
computer use; and selects, maintains, and supports mathematical and statistical software
for NIH mainframes, PCs, and workstations.
Office of Computational Bioscience
The Computational Bioscience and Engineering Laboratory (CBEL) exploits high
performance computer systems in biomedical applications including: image processing;
structural biology; computational chemistry; medical imaging; scientific visualization;
signal processing; genetic database searching; genetic linkage analysis; and advanced
statistical methods.
The Mathematical and Statistical Computing Laboratory (MSCL) engages in biophysical and
biomedical research using advanced mathematical and physical techniques. The research is
mainly collaborative with NIH scientists, and research areas include applied diffusion
theory, biomedical imaging modalities, and data compression.
The Center for Molecular Modeling (CMM) sponsors the NIH Interinstitute Molecular
Modeling Interest Group (MMIG) and provides computational chemistry and structural biology
support to NIH scientists. CMM collaborates with and offers scientific and technical
guidance in computation to the NIH research community. The branch also maintains a
collection of molecular modeling software accessible to MMIG members via a virtual network
of servers and workstations (MMIGNet).
The Scientific Computing Resource Center (SCRC) offers expertise in and access to
scientific software and specialized hardware for the NIH Community. SCRC features the
following at a shared-use facility: knowledgeable support staff; Silicon Graphics,
Windows, and Macintosh workstations; color printers; film, flatbed, and slide scanners;
and over 100 software titles.
Office of Telecommunications Management
OTM manages and directs the NIH telecommunications systems and administers the
telecommunications budget. It develops technical requirements for the ICs and implements
telecommunications programs to meet the needs of the NIH community. OTM is the focal point
for service orders and billing, and developing and disseminating policies and procedures
for the nationwide implementation and management of the NIH telecommunication systems. It
also serves as the liaison for NIH with other Federal agencies, GSA, DHHS, and private
industry.
Office of Information Resources Management
OIRM advises the chief information officer on the direction and management of NIH
information technology (IT) program activities under the Paperwork Reduction Act, the
Computer Security Act, the Information Technology Management Reform Act, and OMB Circular
A-l30. OIRM serves as a focal point for implementing, managing, and overseeing NIH IT
activities related to: IT policy, planning and budgeting; IT resources user requirements;
IT reviews; automated systems inventories; capacity management and planning; security; IT
standards, and IT resources obsolescence and excess equipment. OIRM also collaborates with
NIH components responsible for: acquisition of IT resources; major information systems;
telecommunications management, printing management, computer matching; IT accommodations
for persons with disabilities; records and forms management including the Privacy Act;
information collection, and information dissemination; serving as the NIH liaison to the
Department and to OMB, GSA, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology and
other Federal agencies on all IT matters; participating with appropriate NIH components in
assessing and enhancing the level of knowledge and skill of users of IT resources;
coordinating with appropriate NIH components in developing an NIH-wide plan for
standardizing networking, cabling, and electrical facilities for IT resources; ensuring
that oversight measures are appropriate for the diversity, complexity, and size of the
major providers and the individual institutes and centers (ICs); and provides direction to
the major providers and individual ICs in enhancing and strengthening individual IT
program management ensuring compliance with legislative mandates.
OTM manages and directs the NIH telecommunications systems and administers the
telecommunications budget. It develops technical requirements for the ICs and implements
telecommunications programs to meet the needs of the NIH community. OTM is the focal point
for service orders and billing, and developing and disseminating policies and procedures
for the nationwide implementation and management of the NIH telecommunication systems. It
also serves as the liaison for NIH with other Federal agencies, GSA, DHHS, and private
industry.
Office of Information Resources Management
OIRM advises the chief information officer on the direction and management of NIH
information technology (IT) program activities under the Paperwork Reduction Act, the
Computer Security Act, the Information Technology Management Reform Act, and OMB Circular
A-l30. OIRM serves as a focal point for implementing, managing, and overseeing NIH IT
activities related to: IT policy, planning and budgeting; IT resources user requirements;
IT reviews; automated systems inventories; capacity management and planning; security; IT
standards, and IT resources obsolescence and excess equipment. OIRM also collaborates with
NIH components responsible for: acquisition of IT resources; major information systems;
telecommunications management, printing management, computer matching; IT accommodations
for persons with disabilities; records and forms management including the Privacy Act;
information collection, and information dissemination; serving as the NIH liaison to the
Department and to OMB, GSA, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology and
other Federal agencies on all IT matters; participating with appropriate NIH components in
assessing and enhancing the level of knowledge and skill of users of IT resources;
coordinating with appropriate NIH components in developing an NIH-wide plan for
standardizing networking, cabling, and electrical facilities for IT resources; ensuring
that oversight measures are appropriate for the diversity, complexity, and size of the
major providers and the individual institutes and centers (ICs); and provides direction to
the major providers and individual ICs in enhancing and strengthening individual IT
program management ensuring compliance with legislative mandates.
