What is the role of the NIH Program Official or Program Officer?
The PO identifies areas of science in which more research is needed and communicates this information to potential grant applicants. The PO does this through writing sections of Program Announcements, Requests for Applications, and Requests for Proposals, which are documents that formally notify the field about research areas of interest to NIDA and opportunities for funding. Program staff also make presentations at scientific meetings and organize conferences and workshops to disseminate information about NIDA programs and new scientific directions. Through discussions of the applicant’s research concepts and provision of information, Program staff help investigators develop their applications.
