[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 12, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62554-62559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-25427]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    Part C (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) of the 
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority of 
the Department of Health and Human Services (45 FR 67772-76, dated 
October 14, 1980, and corrected at 45 FR 69296, October 20, 1980, as 
amended most recently at 75 FR 59277-59278, dated September 25, 2010) 
is amended to reflect the reorganization of the National Center for 
HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Office of Infectious 
Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    Section C-B, Organization and Functions, is hereby amended as 
follows:
    Delete in its entirety the function statements for the National 
Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (CJV) and 
the Office of the Director (CJV1) and insert the following:
    National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB 
Prevention (CJV). The National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, 
STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) maximizes public health and safety 
nationally and internationally through the elimination, prevention, and 
control of disease, disability, and death caused by Human 
Immunodeficiency Virus Infection/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome 
(HIV/AIDS), non-HIV retroviruses, viral hepatitis, other sexually 
transmitted diseases (STDs), and tuberculosis (TB). In carrying out its 
mission, NCHHSTP: (1) Builds capacity and enhances public health 
infrastructure for preventing and treating HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, 
STDs, and TB; (2) coordinates activities and programs across CDC and 
with other Department of Health and Human Services Operational 
Divisions in order to maximize the public health impact of HIV/AIDS, 
viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB interventions; (3) conducts surveillance 
and research to determine the distribution, determinants, and burden of 
HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB; (4) conducts program 
evaluation to improve programs and activities relating to the 
prevention of HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB, and determine 
their impact; (5) provides reference laboratory and clinical diagnostic 
services for HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB to relevant 
stakeholders; (6) promotes collaboration and service integration among 
HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB programs; (7) engages external 
partners to develop and implement effective HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, 
STDs, and TB policies, research, and programs; (8) engages partners, to 
promote health equity and reduce health disparities among those 
affected by HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB; (9) provides 
technical assistance and training in the diagnosis, treatment, and 
prevention of HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB; (10) conducts 
public health communication activities to disseminate research findings 
and increase awareness of HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB; (11) 
conducts operational, behavioral, and biomedical research to improve 
the distribution, diagnosis, prevention, and control of HIV/AIDS, viral 
hepatitis, STDs, and TB; (12) provides scientific leadership regarding 
public health ethics and protection of human subjects linked to HIV/
AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB; (13) translates research findings 
into public health practice and policy for HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, 
STDs, and TB prevention; (14) plans, coordinates, and guides programs 
and activities with external partners, federal agencies, and other 
organizations related to HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB 
prevention, care, and treatment; (15) leads and participates in the 
development, implementation, and evaluation of policies and guidelines 
related to HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB; (16) provides 
scientific leadership regarding screening, treatment, immunization, and 
other prevention interventions relevant to HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, 
STDs, and TB; (17) assures all public health decisions are based on the 
highest quality scientific data, openly and objectively derived; (18) 
provides leadership to assist international partners in establishing 
and maintaining, HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB screening, 
treatment,

[[Page 62555]]

immunization, and other prevention and control programs; (19) ensures 
that programmatic and scientific activities are aligned with, and in 
support of, CDC's overall mission, goals, and strategic imperatives; 
(20) allocates and tracks CDC resources and contributes to the 
development of CDC's short-, medium- and long-term strategic plans for 
preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB; (21) 
collaborates with other federal agencies, domestic and international 
governmental and non-governmental organizations to advance CDC and 
NCHHSTP health protection goals; and (22) coordinates oversight of the 
NCHHSTP Federal Advisory Committees.
    Office of the Director (CVJ1). (1) Provides leadership and guidance 
on the development of goals and objectives, policies, program planning 
and development, and program management and operations of the 
activities of NCHHSTP and manages, directs, coordinates, and evaluates 
the center's activities; (2) plans and coordinates the annual program 
planning process; (3) coordinates with Office of the Director (OD), 
Centers/Institute/Offices (CIOs), and divisions in determining and 
interpreting operating policy and in ensuring their respective 
management input for specific program activity plans; (4) facilitates 
CIOser linkages between HIV, non-HIV retroviruses, STDs, viral 
hepatitis, and TB, surveillance activities and prevention programs at 
all levels, and facilitates collaboration, integration, and multi-
disciplinary approaches to enhance the effectiveness of HIV, STD, viral 
hepatitis, and TB prevention programs; (5) facilitates collaboration 
among, and integration of, science and prevention programs throughout 
NCHHSTP and enhances the coordination and integration of HIV, STD, 
viral hepatitis, and TB prevention services for individuals and 
populations at increased risk for more than one of these infections; 
(6) coordinates the integration of CDC funding of state and local 
health departments for HIV, STD, viral hepatitis, and TB prevention; 
(7) maximizes center-wide collaboration to promote and support Program 
Collaboration and Service Integration (PCSI) in state and local HIV/
AIDS, viral hepatitis, STD and TB programs to increase efficiencies and 
provide comprehensive evidence based prevention services to impacted 
populations; (8) develops partnership objectives and strategies for 
advancing center priorities (e.g., on cross-cutting functions PCSI, 
reducing health disparities, etc.) and leverages OD resources to 
address these objectives and strategies; (9) coordinates and tracks 
health equity science and program activities within the center; (10) 
coordinates and tracks science and program activities that concern or 
address social determinants of health within NCHHSTP and other 
programs; (11) collaborates with the CDC OD and other CDC components on 
health equity activities, and works with the CDC OD to monitor progress 
in meeting Executive Orders related to improving minority health; (12) 
develops partnerships with other federal agencies and nongovernmental 
organizations working on similarly-affected populations; (13) supports 
research, surveillance, education, training, and program development to 
achieve health equity and reduce health disparities; (14) sponsors 
workgroups, meetings, and conferences related to health equity; (15) 
promotes a diverse public health workforce through internships, 
fellowships, training programs, and other activities; (16) ensures 
process consistency for laboratory related functions within NCHHSTP and 
across the CIOs; (17) facilitates cross-center decision-making 
regarding laboratory activities; (18) monitors the performance of 
funded extramural research projects in the areas of HIV/AIDS, viral 
hepatitis, STD and TB; (19) collaborates with other federal agencies to 
advance prevention through healthcare; (20) coordinates and supports 
cross-cutting strategic initiatives in support of NCHHSTP divisions and 
partners; and (21) works across the agency to advance prevention 
priorities.
    After the functional statement for the Office of the Director 
(CVJ1), insert the following:
    Office of the Associate Director for Science (CVJ12). (1) Ensures 
process consistency for science across the CIOs; (2) facilitates cross-
center decision-making regarding science; (3) facilitates communication 
regarding scientific and programmatic services across the Office of 
Infectious Diseases (OID); (4) conducts necessary regulatory and 
ethical reviews for activities involving human participants, including 
determining whether an activity includes research, includes human 
subjects, is exempt or requires Institutional Review Board approval, 
and whether an exception is needed to the Public Health Service HIV 
policy; (5) reviews funded activities for application of human research 
regulations; (6) reviews, approves, and tracks research protocols, 
clinical investigations, and the Food and Drug Administration regulated 
response activities intended for submission to CDC Human Research 
Protections Office; and (7) coordinates and tracks Office of Management 
and Budget clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    Informatics Office (CVJ13). (1) Manages all information technology 
(IT) project costs, schedules, performances, and risks; (2) provides 
expertise in leading application development techniques in information 
science and technology to effect the best use of resources; (3) 
performs technical evaluation and integrated baseline reviews of all 
information systems' products and services prior to procurement to 
ensure software purchases align with NCHHSTP strategy; (4) provides 
access to quality data in support of programmatic data analysis; (5) 
coordinates all enterprise-wide IT security policies and procedures 
with key agency offices; (6) ensures operations are in accordance with 
CDC Capital Planning and Investment Control guidelines; (7) ensures 
adherence to CDC enterprise architecture guidelines and standards; (8) 
consults with users to determine IT needs and to develop strategic and 
action plans; and (9) participates in the evolution, identification, 
development, or adoption of appropriate informatics standards.
    Extramural Research Program Office (CVTJJ14). (1) Serves as the 
focal point for the OID for implementing policies and guidelines for 
the conduct of the peer review of infectious disease extramural 
research grant proposals and subsequent grant administration; (2) 
coordinates and conducts in-depth external peer review and secondary 
program relevance review of extramural research applications by use of 
consultant expert panels; (3) makes recommendations to the appropriate 
infectious disease center director on award selections and staff 
members serve as the program officials in conjunction with CDC grants 
management and policy officials to implement and monitor the 
scientific, technical, and administrative aspects of awards; (4) 
facilitates scientific collaborations between external and internal 
investigators; (5) disseminates and evaluates extramural research 
progress, findings, and impact; and (6) coordinates and executes 
objective review, including the special emphasis panel (SEP) process 
for funding of CDC infectious disease non-research grants and 
cooperative agreements.
    Office of Management and Program Support (CVJ15). (1) Helps 
implement and enforce management and operations policies and guidelines 
developed by

[[Page 62556]]

federal agencies, DHHS, and Staff Service Offices (SSO); (2) plans, 
develops, implements, and provides oversight and quality control for 
center-wide policies, procedures, and practices for administrative 
management and acquisition and assistance mechanisms, including 
contracts, memoranda of agreement, and cooperative agreements; (3) 
provides management and coordination of NCHHSTP-occupied space and 
facilities; (4) supplies technical guidance and expertise regarding 
occupancy and facilities management to emergency situations; (5) 
provides oversight and management of the distribution, accountability, 
and maintenance of CDC property and equipment; (6) provides oversight, 
quality control, and management of NCHHSTP records; (7) serves as lead 
and primary contact and liaison with relevant SSO on all matters 
pertaining to the center's procurement needs, policies, and activities; 
(8) develops, reviews, and implements policies, methods and procedures 
for NCHHSTP non-research extramural assistance programs; (9) interprets 
general policy directives, proposed legislation, and appropriation 
language for implications on management and execution of center's 
programs; (10) provides consultation and technical assistance to 
NCHHSTP program officials in the planning, implementation, and 
administration of assistance programs; (11) develops and implements 
objective review processes, including use of SEP process for 
competitive application cycles; (12) oversees the formulation of the 
NCHHSTP budget and responds to inquiries related to the budget; (13) 
provides technical information services to facilitate dissemination of 
relevant public health information and facilitates collaboration with 
national health activities, CDC components, other agencies and 
organizations, and foreign governments on international health 
activities; (14) provides oversight for the programmatic coordination 
of HIV, STD, viral hepatitis, and TB activities between NCHHSTP and 
other CIOs; develops recommendations to the CDC Director as the lead 
CIO for these programs for the distribution of HIV, STD, viral 
hepatitis, and TB funds CDC-wide; (15) provides guidance and 
coordination to divisions on cross-divisional negotiated agreements; 
(16) facilitates state and local cross-divisional issues identification 
and solutions; (17) in coordination with the Office of Program Planning 
and Policy Coordination, responds to Congress as needed; (18) serves as 
NCHHSTP liaison to relevant SSOs for all matters related to financial 
management; (19) serves as focal point for emergency operations and 
deployment; (20) manages and coordinates workforce development and 
succession planning activities within NCHHSTP in collaboration with 
internal and external partners, and coordinates the recruitment, 
assignment, technical supervision, and career development of staff with 
emphasis on developing and supporting diversity initiatives and equal 
opportunity goals; (21) facilitates the assignment of field staff in 
accordance with CDC and NCHHSTP priorities and objectives and 
reassesses the role of NCHHSTP field staff assignees to state and local 
health jurisdictions; and (22) provides center-wide training to 
supervisors, managers and team leaders.
    Office of Program Planning and Policy Coordination (CVJ16). (1) 
Identifies program priorities through strategic planning and other 
processes as appropriate; (2) oversees the development of the center's 
performance plan and performance reports to ensure accountability and 
improve programs and activities; (3) coordinates with the center 
director and management officer the formulation of the NCHHSTP budget; 
(4) liaises with the CDC SSOs on Congressional, legislative, and other 
inquiries; (5) maintains liaison with Congress on matters including 
appropriations, legislative bill tracking, and legislative requests, 
testimony for hearings, congressional inquiries, etc.; (6) develops 
policy- and program-related materials, and talking points; (7) oversees 
the preparation and routing of controlled correspondence; (8) maintains 
liaison with key CDC offices and individuals working on public health 
policies and legislative issues; (9) serves as liaison to governmental 
and nongovernmental partners on policy-related issues; (10) oversees 
priority issues management and proactive and reactive strategic media 
efforts; (11) conducts environmental analysis in response to short-term 
issues to be shared with leadership and program managers; (12) works 
with the Health Communication Science Office to coordinate 
communication strategy and manage short-term issues; (13) formulates 
strategic media objectives for advancing program priorities and 
addressing identified long-range issues; and oversees the 
implementation of strategic media plans through several functional 
areas; (14) develops and implements all proactive media outreach and 
reactive media responses for the center; (15) provides media training 
and technical assistance, as appropriate; and (16) serves as liaison to 
key offices for obtaining CDC and HHS media clearance on products/
activities.
    Health Communication Science Office (CVJ17). (1) Serves as the 
principal advisor to NCHHSTP on communication and marketing science, 
research and practice; (2) provides oversight to ensure the quality and 
science of health communication and marketing campaigns and products 
created by NCHHSTP and its divisions; (3) serves as NCHHSTP clearance 
office for health communication campaigns and products; develops and 
manages clearance systems; (4) provides strategic planning and 
coordination for NCHHSTP communication and marketing programs in 
collaboration with OD and division-level staff; (5) collaborates with 
NCHHSTP policy and media relations staff to ensure consistent and 
timely translation of center-specific health information; (6) executes 
communication activities to support strategic goals and objectives of 
the NCHHSTP OD and activities to support division-level programs; (7) 
coordinates and provides center input on communication activities; (8) 
coordinates CDC and NCHHSTP brand management; (9) provides oversight 
and consultation on partnership development and partner/stakeholder 
communication; (10) develops and manages partner relationships in 
collaboration with NCHHSTP divisions and CDC CIOs; (11) coordinates 
partnership strategies across NCHHSTP divisions; (12) manages 
communication infrastructure for NCHHSTP partnerships; (13) oversees 
management, policy guidance, and governance of NCHHSTP digital channels 
and Web sites per HHS and CDC policy for the use of communication 
technologies; (14) provides coordination and conducts activities to 
support NCHHSTP's presence on networked media, such as social and 
mobile media; and (15) collects/analyzes user data/metrics from 
communication channels and technologies to assess system performance, 
usability, accessibility, and usefulness.
    Delete items (15) and (16) of the functional statement for the 
Office of the Director (CVJB 1), Division of HIV/AIDS, Prevention-
Intervention Support (CVJB), and insert the following: (15) 
Collaborates with other branches, divisions, and CIOs to synthesize HIV 
prevention research findings and translate them into prevention 
practice; and (16) collaborates, as appropriate, with other divisions 
and offices of NCHHSTP, and with other CIOs throughout CDC in carrying 
out these activities.

[[Page 62557]]

    Delete item (1) of the functional statement for the Prevention 
Program Branch (CVJBC), and insert the following: (1) In collaboration 
with state and local public health and non-governmental national/
regional and local partners, CIOs, and other federal agencies, develops 
and implements programs, policies, and activities that enable and 
mobilize affiliates and communities to become involved with, and 
support, local and statewide strategic community planning that improves 
HIV prevention programs and activities.
    Delete in its entirety the title and function statement for the 
Program Evaluation Research Branch (CVJBD), and insert the following:
    Program Evaluation Branch (CVJBD). (1) Evaluates the effectiveness 
and impact of HIV prevention interventions, strategies, policies, and 
programs as practiced or implemented by CDC-funded public health 
agencies and organizations at the national/regional and state/local 
levels; (2) collaborates within DHAP, with HIV prevention program 
grantees, and with other national partners to systematically collect, 
process, and use HIV prevention program data for program planning and 
improvement; (3) collaborates in the conduct of evaluation research 
activities and economic evaluations of HIV prevention activities; (4) 
seeks to advance the methodology of HIV prevention evaluation through 
CDC evaluation activities and with the field of program evaluation more 
broadly; and (5) collaborates with other branches as they develop, 
test, and disseminate models for quality assurance of programs and 
services.
    Delete in its entirety the title and function statement for the 
Technical Information and Communications Branch (CVJBG), and insert the 
following:
    Prevention Communications Branch (CVJBG). (1) Implements science 
and evidence based HIV/AIDS communication programs and approaches that 
target opinion leaders, stakeholders, persons at risk for and living 
with HIV/AIDS and the general public; (2) systematically translates and 
disseminates science based messages through multiple communication 
channels; (3) effectively implements agenda setting and mobilization 
efforts; and (4) implements efficient internal communication approaches 
targeting DHAP staff.
    Delete items (3) and (10) of the functional statement for the 
Office of the Director (CVJC 1), Division of HIV/AIDS, Prevention-
Surveillance and Epidemiology (CVJC) and insert the following: (3) 
Provides leadership in developing research in epidemiology, 
surveillance, and other scientific aspects of HIV/AIDS prevention, and 
in coordinating activities between the division and other NCHHSTP 
divisions, CIOs, and national-level prevention partners who influence 
HIV/AIDS prevention programs involved in HIV/AIDS investigations and 
research; and (10) collaborates, as appropriate, with other divisions 
and offices of NCHHSTP, and with other CIOs throughout CDC.
    After item (10) of the functional statement for the Office of the 
Director (CVJD1), Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention 
(CVJD), add the following: and (11) manages the Tuskegee Participants 
Health Benefits Program.
    After the functional statement for the Statistics and Data 
Management Branch (CVJDH), add the following:
    Field Services Branch (CVJDJ). (1) In collaboration with the 
Program and Training Branch assigns Public Health Advisors to state and 
local health departments; (2) provides state and local health 
departments technical assistance with the development and 
implementation of strategies for addressing the STD burden; (3) 
provides state and local health departments assistance with developing, 
implementing and evaluating core public health activities to reduce the 
incidence, strengthen public, private clinical and community-based 
partnerships; and (4) promotes and enhances capacity-building within 
state and local health departments through consultation, demonstration 
and technical expertise.
    Delete in their entirety the functional statements for the Division 
of Tuberculosis and Elimination (CVJE), and Office of Director (CVJE1), 
and insert the following:
    Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (CVJE). The Division of 
Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE) promotes health and quality of life by 
preventing, controlling, and eventually eliminating TB from the United 
States (U.S.), and by collaborating with other countries and 
international partners in controlling TB worldwide. In carrying out its 
mission, the division conducts the following activities under each 
focus area: (1) Administers and promotes a national program for the 
prevention, control, and elimination of TB; (2) supports a nationwide 
framework for surveillance of TB and evaluation of national TB 
prevention and control program performance; (3) provides programmatic 
consultation, technical assistance, and outbreak response assistance to 
international, state, and local TB programs; (4) co-chairs and 
coordinates administrative support for the Federal TB Task Force, and 
supports and collaborates with the National Tuberculosis Controllers 
Association and the Tuberculosis Education and Training Network to 
promote effective national communications and coordinated feedback on 
urgent policy and program performance issues; (5) supports development 
of TB patient education materials and interventions, capacity 
development, and access to medical consultation; (6) provides national 
and supranational reference laboratory function for identification, 
drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis; (7) fosters 
patient-centered measures, including directly-observed therapy, to 
promote adherence with long-term treatment for improvements in well-
being and interruption in community transmission of M tuberculosis; (8) 
promotes targeted testing of idemiologically-defined at-risk 
populations and treatment of persons with latent TB; (9) conducts 
epidemiologic, laboratory, behavioral, health systems, and clinical 
research; (10) supports patient and provider research to identify 
barriers and facilitators to TB services; (11) supports multicenter 
consortia for epidemiologic, laboratory, diagnostics, clinical, and 
vaccine development research; (12) develops and applies mathematical TB 
transmission models to forecast future incidence and prevalence trends; 
(13) provides leadership and formulates national and global policies 
and guidelines; (14) provides technical supervision and training to 
federal assignees working in international, state, and local TB control 
programs; (15) develops training and educational materials, and 
provides technical assistance on communications and training needs; 
(16) participates in the development of policies and guidelines for TB 
prevention and control within populations at high risk, such as persons 
infected with HIV or racial and ethnic minorities; (17) provides 
programmatic consultation, technical assistance, and outbreak response 
assistance to other countries by collaborating with national and 
international partners; (18) supports technical activities and 
operational research to reduce TB in foreign-born populations; (19) 
provides leadership and technical support to the global health 
initiatives for the prevention and control of TB and drug-resistant TB; 
(20) provides leadership and technical support to the World Health 
Organization (WHO)-hosted Stop TB

[[Page 62558]]

Partnership for implementation of the Global Plan to Stop TB and 
Millennium Development Goals; (21) monitors progress and trends towards 
TB elimination; (22) monitors progress towards CDC, Healthy People 
2010, and the Government Performance Results Act goals; (23) provides 
progress reports to, and solicits advice from, the Advisory Council for 
the Elimination of Tuberculosis (ACET); and (24) facilitates 
partnerships with affected communities, nongovernmental, professional, 
and global organizations.
    Office of the Director (CVJE1). (1) Provides leadership and 
guidance in program planning and management, policy formulation, and 
development of training, surveillance, and research programs in TB; (2) 
directs and evaluates the operations of the division; (3) establishes 
contact with, and promotes TB activities of, other national and 
international organizations which have an important role to play in 
achieving TB elimination; (4) coordinates administrative and logistical 
support services for the division; (5) provides consultation and 
assistance in writing reports for presentation at local, regional, 
national, and international scientific meetings and for publication in 
scientific journals; (6) coordinates and tracks materials for purposes 
of clearance and approval for publications and presentations; (7) 
presents findings at national and international scientific meetings; 
(8) presents division overview at the ACET meetings; (9) collaborates 
and coordinates division activities with other components of NCHHSTP 
and CDC; (10) provides technical support to ACET; (11) provides 
administrative and technical support for the Stop TB USA (previously 
the National Coalition for the Elimination of Tuberculosis) and the 
Federal TB Task Force; and (12) provides leadership and technical 
expertise to the global Stop TB partnership.
    Delete in its entirety the functional statement for the 
Communications, Education, and Behavioral Studies Branch (CVJEB), and 
insert the following:
    (1) Provides technical assistance to health departments and other 
health care providers in assessing and meeting their TB training, 
education, and communication needs; (2) provides technical expertise to 
assess the impact of training and education activities by health 
departments; (3) provides technical assistance to health departments 
and other TB health care providers regarding behavioral studies 
research and intervention development; (4) collaborates with the WHO, 
the World Bank, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung 
Diseases (IUATLD), United States Agency for International Development 
(USAID), and others, in assessing and meeting TB training, education, 
and communication needs in other countries; (5) provides consultation 
and assistance in coordinating TB training, education, behavioral 
studies and interventions, and communication activities carried out by 
other CDC programs, Regional Training and Medical Consultation Centers, 
and Stop TB USA members, and develops, markets, and maintains 
electronic mailing lists for persons with TB-related education, 
training, and communication responsibilities; (6) develops, plans, and 
coordinates agendas necessary to conduct TB conferences and workshops 
sponsored by the division; (7) provides DTBE coordination and oversight 
and technical information for CDC INFO; (8) organizes and maintains 
scientific and non-scientific information resources related to TB; (9) 
conducts formative research and evaluation on approaches to patient, 
provider, and public education, and conducts research on individual and 
social factors affecting health-care seeking behavior and treatment 
outcomes related to TB; (10) based on research findings, develops 
behavioral interventions targeted to health care providers, persons 
with or at risk for TB, and other high-risk populations; (11) provides 
consultation to national and international organizations on behavioral 
research needs and study designs; on the technical transfer of 
behavioral research findings into TB program practice and TB training 
and educational strategies; and provides consultation, technical 
assistance, and coordination to other branches within the division 
regarding development and implementation of behavioral interventions 
and training for branch specific activities such as Report of Verified 
Case of Tuberculosis, Aggregate Reports for Program Evaluation, and 
surveillance activities; (12) presents findings at national and 
scientific meetings and develops, disseminates, and evaluates training 
and educational materials and courses providing TB information to the 
scientific and public health communities, as well as the general 
population; (13) conducts training and education needs assessments; 
identifies resources available for health department TB control 
officers and senior managers, TB nurse consultants, TB training and 
education directors and for senior staff carrying out TB activities in 
other programs or facilities serving persons at high risk for TB; and 
develops, conducts, and coordinates training courses on TB for state 
and big city TB program managers and nurse consultants; (14) based on 
needs assessments, develops and conducts or coordinates training 
courses and materials for staff who train and/or supervise front-line 
TB program staff (15) provides oversight in the planning, coordination, 
and maintenance of the division's Internet and Intranet Web sites; (16) 
conducts and/or coordinates communications programs designed to build 
public support and sustain public interest and commitment to the 
elimination of TB; (17) conducts communications research and identifies 
communications resources available for health department TB control 
officers and senior managers, TB nurse consultants, and for senior 
staff carrying out TB activities in other programs or facilities 
serving persons at high risk for TB; (18) coordinates graphic support 
to the division and senior field staff; (19) provides coordination and 
oversight for division responses and relations with the media and 
public and serves as point of contact for telephonic, written, and 
electronic (e-mail) requests for information from the media and public; 
(20) develops, coordinates, and staffs the divisions exhibit booth at 
conferences/meetings; (21) provides oversight and coordination for TB 
related voice and Web-based TB information, training, and education 
resources; (22) maintains inventory of TB training opportunities and 
coordinates with employees and supervisors for training necessary to 
carry out their duties; and (23) presents communications issues to ACET 
and at national and international scientific meetings.
    Delete in its entirety the title and function statement for the 
Clinical and Health Systems Research Branch (CVJEE), and insert the 
following:
    Clinical Research Branch (CVJEE). (1) Assesses the need for and 
conducts studies of new or existing drugs and regimens used in the 
prevention and treatment of TB, including dosage, duration, 
pharmacokinetics and toxicity; (2) supports the TB Trials Consortium in 
the conduct of studies of new treatments for active TB and latent TB 
infection; (3) supports coordinated and standardized data management 
for branch research, and serves as the Data and Coordinating Center for 
the TB Trials Consortium, collaborating as needed with both internal 
and external partners; (4) collaborates with private and public 
institutions in the area of vaccine development; (5) provides clinical 
support and oversight for the

[[Page 62559]]

distribution of investigational drugs for the treatment and prevention 
of TB by CIOs/Scientific Resources/Drug Service; (6) assesses the need 
for and conducts clinical and field trials of more specific and rapid 
tests to diagnose active TB and latent TB infection and to identify 
drug-resistant TB in collaboration with the Laboratory Branch; (7) 
collaborates with and provides consultation and technical assistance to 
national and international organizations on the design and conduct of 
clinical trials and research needs; (8) conducts, participates in, and 
collaborates with other DTBE units in research on clinical, 
epidemiologic, immunologic and genetic aspects of TB prevention and 
control; (9) collaborates in contact investigation research with other 
branches and local programmatic areas; (10) conducts multidisciplinary 
studies (including the analysis of behavioral, economic, and 
epidemiologic factors) of health care systems to assess the cost, 
effectiveness, and impact of public health policies, programs, and 
practices on TB outcomes to further the goal of TB elimination in the 
U.S., and targets these studies toward various populations at high risk 
for TB, including persons from high TB prevalent countries, homeless 
persons, HIV-infected persons, residents of correctional facilities, 
substance abusers, and health care workers; (11) provides consultation 
and training to local, state, national, and international 
organizations, and to TB program field staff, on design and conduct of 
clinical trials, TB therapeutics and diagnostics, health care systems 
research needs, decision and economic analyses, evaluation techniques, 
qualitative research methods, and research on TB transmission; (12) has 
responsibility for divisional engagement in preparing for and 
participating in trials of new TB vaccines; (13) reports study results 
to public health practitioners through direct communication, articles 
in scientific journals and CDC publications, and oral and poster 
presentations at national and international scientific meetings; (14) 
provides input into statements and guidelines issued by the CDC, the 
ACET, and professional organizations; and (15) presents research issues 
and findings to ACET and at national and international scientific 
meetings.
    Delete items (2), (3), (4), and (6) of the functional statement for 
the International Research and Programs Branch (CVJEI1D), and insert 
the following: (2) Coordinates the assessment of immigration and its 
impact on TB patterns in the U.S. and assists with the evaluation of 
overseas TB screening procedures for immigrants and refugees; (3) 
conducts and coordinates operational research and demonstration 
projects to improve both the overseas screening for TB of immigrants 
and refugees and the domestic follow-up of those entering with 
suspected TB (in collaboration with other CIOs); (4) promotes the 
improved recognition and management of TB among the foreign-born 
through epidemiological analyses of national TB surveillance data and 
special studies on the U.S./Mexico border and in countries contributing 
to foreign-born TB cases in the U.S.; (6) collaborates with the nation 
of Botswana, WHO, the World Bank, IUATLD, USAID, and others, to conduct 
investigations into the diagnosis, management, and prevention of TB in 
persons with and without HIV infection.
    Delete in its entirety the title and function statement for the 
Mycobacteriology Laboratory Branch (CVJEJ), and insert the following:
    Laboratory Branch (CVJEJ). (1) Serves as the national reference 
laboratory in support of the mission of DTBE, fulfilling public health 
function in leadership, clinical and consultative service, and 
research; (2) provides laboratory support for epidemic investigations, 
surveillance activities, and special studies of TB, in collaboration of 
other branches; (3) administers contracts to provide Mycobacterium 
tuberculosis genotyping, maintains a national database of genotypes, 
and conducts operational research to implement genotyping; (4) develops 
and evaluates new methods to subtype M tuberculosis for epidemiologic 
studies; (5) serves as primary CDC focus for diagnostic laboratory 
services for TB; (6) administers grants and cooperative agreements with 
states and others to upgrade laboratory activities and provide special 
services; (7) provides reference diagnostic services, consultation, 
technical assistance, and training to state, federal, and municipal 
public health laboratories; (8) provides laboratory support, reference 
services, assessment, consultation, and training for CDC's 
international TB activities; (9) develops, evaluates, or improves 
conventional and molecular methods for the detection, classification, 
identification, characterization, and susceptibility testing of M 
tuberculosis; (10) conducts studies to define the role of bacterial 
virulence factors, host factors, and pathogenic and immunologic 
mechanisms in disease processes and protective immunity in 
mycobacteria, and develops, evaluates, and improves immunologic methods 
for the diagnosis and prevention of TB; (11) develops tissue culture 
and animal models of TB and conducts studies on chemotherapy, 
immunotherapy, pathogenesis, pathology, and vaccines for TB; (12) 
prepares manuscripts for publication in scientific journals; (13) 
presents findings at national and international scientific meetings; 
(14) supervises and trains fellows in temporary or multi-year 
educationally-based programs in endeavors related to the mission of the 
branch; and (15) presents laboratory issues to ACET and at national and 
international scientific meetings.

     Dated: September 27, 2010.
William P. Nichols,
Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2010-25427 Filed 10-8-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-18-M