Valerie Cotton

Valerie Cotton is the deputy director of ODSS, where she works within NICHD, across NIH, and with other federal partners to coordinate and promote the sharing of scientific data and biospecimens through developing technical infrastructure, communicating data science best practices, and implementing policies in support of NICHD’s mission.

Ms. Cotton leads several efforts to analyze and implement data governance strategies to promote interoperability across the NIH data ecosystem, including specifically exploring issues around participant-level record linkage and system-level cloud platform interoperability. She supports and advises multiple NIH and NICHD initiatives on approaches for implementing the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy, relevant data standards, data ecosystem and interoperability strategies, and data governance frameworks that maximize the sharing of scientific data while navigating risks, addressing ethical considerations, and respecting participant trust. Prior to joining ODSS, she served as the program manager for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First).

Ms. Cotton earned her B.Sc. in neuroscience from McGill University. Afterward, she was a postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award fellow at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. She is currently completing the requirements for a master’s in legal studies from the American University Washington College of Law.