NIOSH Program Portfolio : Cancer, Reproductive, and Cardiovascular Diseases : Strategic Goals

NIOSH Programs > Cancer, Reproductive, and Cardiovascular Diseases > Strategic Goals

Cancer, Reproductive, and Cardiovascular Diseases

Inputs: NIOSH Strategic Goals

The NIOSH CRC is in the process of developing formal strategic goals to guide our research and partnership efforts over the next decade.

NIOSH previously used "priority" topic areas (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular disease) to guide research efforts. Goals take this approach a step further by identifying specific outcomes that we want to target, performance measures for evaluating progress in meeting the outcome goals, and intermediate goals to describe the necessary steps that need to be performed to accomplish the goal. Setting goals is challenging because

It forces us to focus on a subgroup of issues where we think NIOSH can make an impact—a long list would spread our resources too thin to accomplish the goals. Not every worthwhile topic can be included.
It is difficult to develop performance measures. Available surveillance data have limitations, and exposure and health outcome measures are typically not available.
It is ambitious for NIOSH to set goals to achieve outcomes such as reductions in incidence of cancer. NIOSH is a research agency so we do not often directly influence outcomes—we must partner well and influence other groups to show results.

NIOSH Program Portfolio Approach

NIOSH has been organizing research, guidance, information, and service efforts into specific "programs" that can be readily communicated and strategically governed and evaluated. There are eight NORA Sector Programs representing industrial sectors and twenty-four Cross-sector Programs organized around adverse health outcomes, statutory programs, and global efforts. The NIOSH CRC is a Cross-Sector Program.

The Cross-Sector Programs intersect with NORA Sector Programs in a matrix-like fashion. For example, a CRC goal of reducing illness due cancer and cardiovascular disease and reducing adverse reproductive outcomes might also be a shared goal with a number of NIOSH Sector Programs and if appropriate would be adopted by multiple programs. This approach provides an added advantage and will allow multiple Programs to work towards accomplishment of intersecting goals.

Each of the 30 programs in the NIOSH Program Portfolio has a Manager and Coordinator and a "Steering Committee" that will develop program goals and monitor outcome measures. These planning efforts will position NIOSH to align with the most current governmental approaches for evaluating program effectiveness, i.e., the Program Assessment Rating Tool, which is a mechanism to hold governmental agencies accountable for accomplishing results. As part of our comprehensive approach to performance measurement, NIOSH has engaged the National Academies to independently evaluate our sector and cross-sector programs for relevance and impact.

When draft goals for the NIOSH CRC are completed, they will be posted here for review and comment. We will also use the NIOSH eNews to announce that draft goals are available for review.

NIOSH is interested in your opinions about the relevance and value of strategic goals for the CRC. We encourage you to consider partnering with us on issues of interest to you and your organization.

< National Research Agenda (NORA) | NIOSH Strategic Goals | Emerging Issues >

NIOSH Program Portfolio:

Cancer, Reproductive, and Cardiovascular Diseases

Program Description

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Activities

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Review & Evaluation

	NIOSH Programs > Cancer, Reproductive, and Cardiovascular Diseases > Strategic Goals Cancer, Reproductive, and Cardiovascular Diseases Inputs: NIOSH Strategic Goals The NIOSH CRC is in the process of developing formal strategic goals to guide our research and partnership efforts over the next decade. NIOSH previously used "priority" topic areas (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular disease) to guide research efforts. Goals take this approach a step further by identifying specific outcomes that we want to target, performance measures for evaluating progress in meeting the outcome goals, and intermediate goals to describe the necessary steps that need to be performed to accomplish the goal. Setting goals is challenging because It forces us to focus on a subgroup of issues where we think NIOSH can make an impact—a long list would spread our resources too thin to accomplish the goals. Not every worthwhile topic can be included. It is difficult to develop performance measures. Available surveillance data have limitations, and exposure and health outcome measures are typically not available. It is ambitious for NIOSH to set goals to achieve outcomes such as reductions in incidence of cancer. NIOSH is a research agency so we do not often directly influence outcomes—we must partner well and influence other groups to show results. NIOSH Program Portfolio Approach NIOSH has been organizing research, guidance, information, and service efforts into specific "programs" that can be readily communicated and strategically governed and evaluated. There are eight NORA Sector Programs representing industrial sectors and twenty-four Cross-sector Programs organized around adverse health outcomes, statutory programs, and global efforts. The NIOSH CRC is a Cross-Sector Program. The Cross-Sector Programs intersect with NORA Sector Programs in a matrix-like fashion. For example, a CRC goal of reducing illness due cancer and cardiovascular disease and reducing adverse reproductive outcomes might also be a shared goal with a number of NIOSH Sector Programs and if appropriate would be adopted by multiple programs. This approach provides an added advantage and will allow multiple Programs to work towards accomplishment of intersecting goals. Each of the 30 programs in the NIOSH Program Portfolio has a Manager and Coordinator and a "Steering Committee" that will develop program goals and monitor outcome measures. These planning efforts will position NIOSH to align with the most current governmental approaches for evaluating program effectiveness, i.e., the Program Assessment Rating Tool, which is a mechanism to hold governmental agencies accountable for accomplishing results. As part of our comprehensive approach to performance measurement, NIOSH has engaged the National Academies to independently evaluate our sector and cross-sector programs for relevance and impact. When draft goals for the NIOSH CRC are completed, they will be posted here for review and comment. We will also use the NIOSH eNews to announce that draft goals are available for review. NIOSH is interested in your opinions about the relevance and value of strategic goals for the CRC. We encourage you to consider partnering with us on issues of interest to you and your organization. < National Research Agenda (NORA) \| NIOSH Strategic Goals \| Emerging Issues >				NIOSH Program Portfolio: Cancer, Reproductive, and Cardiovascular Diseases Program Description Inputs Occupational Risks National Research Agenda (NORA) NIOSH Strategic Goals Emerging Issues Partners NIOSH Contacts Activities NIOSH Research Projects NIOSH Funded Research Grants Outputs Publications Topic Pages Products Research to Practice Conferences Outcomes Review & Evaluation Program Review National Academies Evaluation
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