News Release

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Dr. Franziska B. Grieder appointed as Director of the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs at NIH

The National Institutes of Health announced today the appointment of Franziska B. Grieder, D.V.M., Ph.D., as director of the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) in the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives. Dr. Grieder’s appointment was effective Jan. 13, 2013.

Dr. Grieder has been serving as ORIP Acting Director since July 2012. Prior to her tenure as acting director, Dr. Grieder served as the director of the Division of Comparative Medicine for eight years at the former NIH National Center for Research Resources (NCRR).

“ORIP supports the development of and access to enabling resources for biomedical research, as well as the improvement of life science literacy through innovative education programs. These unique efforts are integral to the NIH mission.” said NIH Deputy Director for Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, James M. Anderson, M.D., Ph.D. “Dr. Grieder brings an outstanding and unique combination of scientific knowledge and extramural management expertise to the position. I look forward to continue working with her in advancing ORIP's important work.”

Prior to joining NCRR, Dr. Grieder was a faculty member in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Molecular/Cell Biology and Neuroscience in the School of Medicine of the Uniformed Services University (USU). She continues to serve as an adjunct faculty in the Department of Pathology and Program of Neuroscience at USU. At USU, Dr. Grieder's research focused on viral pathogenesis using mouse models to investigate neuroimmune mechanisms.

Dr. Grieder earned a D.V.M. degree from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Zurich, and a Ph.D. from the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

ORIP is a component of the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI), which identifies and reports on research on important areas of emerging scientific opportunities, rising public health challenges, or knowledge gaps that deserve special emphasis. DPCPSI plans and implements trans-NIH initiatives supported by the NIH Common Fund and coordinates research related to AIDS, behavioral and social sciences, women's health, research infrastructure, science education, and strategic coordination of the NIH Common Fund. Additional information is available at: http://dpcpsi.nih.gov/orip/index.aspx.

The Office of the Director, the central office at NIH, is responsible for setting policy for NIH, which includes 27 Institutes and Centers. This involves planning, managing, and coordinating the programs and activities of all NIH components. The Office of the Director also includes program offices which are responsible for stimulating specific areas of research throughout NIH. Additional information is available at http://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

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