ODSS was established in 2021 to lead and coordinate NICHD’s activities within data science, bioinformatics, data sharing policy and compliance, and emerging technologies.
ODSS's vision is to enable a culture of responsible and innovative use of data and biospecimens that accelerates research and improves health for NICHD populations. The office's mission is to:
- Develop a diverse, secure, and interoperable research data ecosystem
- Advise on best practices for data collection, standards, management, sharing, and use across the research and funding lifecycles
- Advance scientific discovery in support of NICHD's mission to understand human development, improve reproductive health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize abilities for all
ODSS is a trusted informational resource for NICHD staff and researchers on all NIH data and specimen sharing policies.
ODSS serves as NICHD's primary liaison with the NIH Office of the Director's Office of Data Science and Strategy, to ensure engagement in large NIH data-science and emerging technology programs and ensure alignment with NIH, HHS, and federal programs and policies.
Director Rebecca Rosen’s presentation (PDF 2.2 MB) from the January 2023 Council provides an overview of ODSS activities.