DVRD - Office of the Director/Prion

1. Directs and manages the programs and activities of DVRD;
2. provides leadership and guidance on policy, program planning and development, program management, and operations;
3. coordinates or assures coordination with the appropriate CDC, CCID, and ZVED offices on administrative and program matters;
4. reviews, prepares, and coordinates congressional testimony and briefing documents related to viral, rickettsial, and prion diseases, and analyzes programmatic and policy implications of legislative proposals;
5. represents CDC, CCID, and ZVED programs and prevention policies in meetings with other governmental, private, and international organizations;
6. serves as CDC, CCID, and ZVED’s primary internal and external communications contact regarding viral, rickettsial, and prion disease issues;
7. advises CDC, CCID, and ZVED on policy matters concerning DVRD programs and activities;
8. conducts or participates in clinical, field, and laboratory research to develop, evaluate, and improve laboratory methods, materials, and therapeutic practices used for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and control of prion diseases;
9. coordinates, in collaboration with the appropriate CCID and CDC components, international health activities related to the prevention and control of prion diseases;
10. conducts or supports surveillance and epidemiologic investigations to facilitate the understanding and control of prion diseases and severe diseases of unknown, but suspected infectious, etiology; and
11. serves as the primary disseminator of information from CDC, including clinical and disease prevention consultations to state and local health departments and/or federal and international agencies on the illnesses and syndromes caused by or related to prions.