Goal: To foster stewardship, collaboration, and accountability
ODS strives to support the scientific workforce and the development of research resources and infrastructure that help advance knowledge of dietary supplements. Updated communication vehicles and resources will be used to generate interest in dietary supplement research, translate research findings with transparency, and amplify ODS' role in creating innovative collaborations and opportunities with NIH ICOs and other federal agencies. By supporting the NIH DSRCC, expert panel meetings, workshops, and the Mary Francis Picciano Dietary Supplement Research Practicum, ODS will work to enhance the knowledge of the dietary supplement workforce. Internally, ODS staff will have access to professional development opportunities and other resources as they develop new research opportunities. Program efficiency and accountability will be enhanced through the identification and implementation of the best NIH tools for analysis and evaluation of ODS activities. These tools will help staff develop priority-based portfolio analyses, assess the progress of ODS research, and identify new directions and priorities. In addition, ODS staff will support new efforts by creating effective approaches to increase interest, responsivity, and accountability while maximizing public health impact.
Stewardship Objective 1
Increase knowledge of and generate interest in dietary supplement research, ODS' accomplishments and activities, and its capabilities as a DPCPSI coordinating office
Strategically communicating scientific advances and ODS activities and messages supports ODS' partnerships while also distributing up-to-date and relevant research findings and resources to NIH ICOs, federal government, academic and industry researchers, health professionals, policymakers, and consumers.
By working closely with NIH ICO communication teams, ODS will increase awareness of its work, research and funding opportunities, and resources while also helping to strengthen existing and develop new partnerships. These collaborations also will allow for exchange of valuable information on best communications practices and provide guidance on ODS' outreach strategy and key messages. ODS communications staff also will engage existing and potential partners outside of NIH to increase awareness of ODS' activities and accomplishments and offer opportunities to participate in workshops, seminars, and other educational events.
As ODS updates its informational products and resources it will simultaneously identify best ways to provide those resources to its many different audiences through a renewed website and modernized communication vehicles.
To amplify its mission as a coordinating office, ODS will:
- Communicate key ODS messages about activities and research findings throughout NIH and other federal and academic research communities
- Respond to inquiries about dietary supplements from researchers, health care providers, consumers, and others, including media requests
- Maintain and improve technologies used for communicating ODS information
- Support ODS-sponsored workshops, seminars, and other events
Stewardship Objective 2
Develop information resources that translate dietary supplement research findings for ODS audiences
Disseminating pertinent and trustworthy scientific information is an important component of ODS' mission of supporting innovative and cutting-edge research on dietary supplements to foster knowledge and optimize the health of the population. One of ODS' collective goals is to translate the latest dietary supplement science to key audiences. ODS science and information resources have included dietary supplement fact sheets, newsletters, and videos of ODS seminars and webinars.
ODS will improve its resources by identifying best practices for conveying scientific information to researchers, health professionals, and consumers and adapting its current resources as needed.
The work on information resources focuses on:
- Identifying new scientific advances in dietary supplement research
- Translating scientific information into materials appropriate for different ODS audiences
- Maintaining informational resources on dietary supplements
Stewardship Objective 3
Prioritize stewardship by conducting evaluations and other processes to ensure strategic alignment and measurable return on investment for all ODS activities
Committed to scientific stewardship, ODS will ensure that all activities are of the highest quality and implemented with accuracy, efficiency, and objectivity. To achieve this ODS will utilize existing tools and develop processes that help maximize impact.
ODS will use tools, such as those available through the NIH Office of Portfolio Analysis (OPA), to identify NIH-funded research projects relevant to dietary supplements. Portfolio analyses will help identify potential collaborators to develop concepts and implement new research. It also will allow for the characterization of research by topic, study design, intervention, and populations studied. Analyses also can look at methodologies deployed to ensure effective data capture. Portfolio analyses of ODS-supported research will also help ODS assess the breadth of their NIH and other federal partner collaborations and can help identify new opportunities.
ODS will ensure efficient initiation and coordination of collaborations and research by using accountability procedures to track progress and key research findings for each of its supported efforts. This will include the development of new funding determination processes and feedback mechanisms that support the analyses and evaluations that help identify and implement improvement to maximize efficiency and demonstrate accomplishments against goals and objectives. These analyses will help ODS fully understand the progress and value of its activities.
To assist in the management and progress of ODS' research, ODS will leverage NIH resources for evaluation and reporting, including the Strategic Tracking and Reporting Tool (START) developed by the NIH Office of Evaluation, Performance, and Reporting (OEPR). START provides analysis of strategic plan tracking, performance monitoring, evaluation, and other administrative data.
Additional qualitative evaluation techniques will be applied as warranted to obtain feedback on processes and perceived impact.
ODS is well positioned to prioritize stewardship and will:
- Train ODS research program staff in the development of NIH funding opportunities, contract development, and IAAs to support new activities
- Develop feedback mechanisms to gather research progress and findings for all ODS-supported activities
- Develop standards for ODS research accountability
- Implement and train staff in the use of analysis tools and methods
Stewardship Objective 4
Coordinate and support diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workforce and professional development opportunities
Continuous improvement of administrative, budgetary, and management functions enhances efficiencies and ensures that organizations provide a supportive environment in which to conduct their work. At ODS this includes professional development opportunities and activities for staff, including programmatic and officewide budget reviews; development and implementation of efficient administrative processes; and communication of core ODS office values that include respect, curiosity, and accountability.
To develop the dietary supplement research workforce, ODS offers educational opportunities that include the Mary Frances Picciano Dietary Supplement Research Practicum and the ODS Seminar Series. The Practicum is a multiday educational opportunity that provides fundamental knowledge of dietary supplements to faculty, students, and practitioners with a serious interest in this subject. Through the ODS Seminar Series, experts in dietary supplement science share recent research developments with researchers, health professionals, trade associations, and consumers.
ODS supports other research and training programs that build future research capacity for studying the role of dietary supplements in health and disease prevention. For example, the NIH intramural ODS Research Scholars Program stimulates long-term career interest in pursuing dietary supplement-related research.
Workforce development efforts, whether they be training, career development, or support for junior and mid-level scientists, provide opportunities to close gaps for researchers. To enhance the workforce ODS will:
- Enhance existing workforce development and training opportunities
- Develop ODS operations standards to support an efficient and positive work environment
- Explore ways to better engage with outside research entities to inform them of funding and collaboration opportunities