Office of Extramural Policy (OEP)

Close-up of a laptop screen showing a document of highlighted information and several filled-in check boxes.OEP provides leadership in all aspects of extramural research and serves as an authoritative source of policy guidance, interpretation, and dissemination for NICHD and the scientific community.

The office coordinates and shares information on grant-related issues, conducts application referral activities, evaluates special and other actions, and coordinates advisory council review of applications and research concepts. Because OEP coordinates development of funding opportunities, it also consults with the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) and the NIH Guide to Grants and Funding.

The office also coordinates training, fellowship, and career development award programs for NICHD, including collaborating with OER in the development of NIH-wide training policies, and managing administrative review of requests. OEP also develops, implements, and manages the extramural staff training program for NICHD.

  • Joseph Gindhart, OEP Director and DEA Deputy Director
    Program Areas: Division of Extramural Research (DER) liaison, grants policy, clinical trials
  • Dennis A. Twombly, OEP Deputy Director and Extramural Training Officer
    Program Areas: Career development awards, institutional training grants
  • Erika Barr, Ph.D.
    Program Area: Division of Intramural Research Liaison
  • Sandi Delcore, eRA Coordinator
    Program Areas: NIH and NICHD extramural software applications
  • April Edwards, NIH Guide Liaison
    Program Areas: Notice of Funding Opportunity production and clearance; Diversity and Re-Entry Supplements
  • Keith Rivers, Clinical Trials Policy Officer
    Program Areas: DER liaison; clinical trials; grants policy
  • Christine Rumney, Science Writer
    Program Areas: Internal and external DER and DEA communications
  • Guanghu (Jeff) Wang, Policy Officer
    Program Areas: Application assignment, referral guidelines; grant application process; emerging topics and initiatives