Office of Translational Initiatives and Program Innovations (OTIPI)

What We Do:

The Office provides leadership for the vigorous pursuit of excellence in research translation and utilization of innovative programs to speed the application of research discoveries in the prevention, detection, and treatment of drug abuse and addiction.  OTIPI specifically aims at taking research discoveries into candidate health applications.

The Office has five major strategic objectives:

• Coordination, management and evaluation of NIDA Small Business Innovation Research /Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Programs.
• Coordination, management and evaluation of the utilization of novel funding authorities (Prizes and Open Competitions) by NIDA and development of pioneering funding opportunities.
• Coordination and governance of NIDA participation in NIH Initiative to Enhance Reproducibility and Transparency of Research Findings. 
• Establishing the Strategic Alliances and Partnerships in areas of product development, entrepreneurship and innovation, including inter-agency (DHHS, NIH, CDC, FDA, NAS).
• Internal and external education events and programs in translational research, complementary to existing career development programs.

To achieve these objectives, OTIPI

• Proactively identifies opportunities for translation and product development;
• Recognizes and leverages existing efforts, capitalizes on synergies, enhances communication and coordination between existing programs with specific goal of enhancing NIDA’s translational efforts, develops and coordinates strategic initiatives and funding opportunities. 
• Facilitates programmatic integration across NIDA, other NIH ICs, government, and private organizations to effectively exploit the results of NIDA-sponsored research discoveries;
• Creatively facilitates knowledge exchange opportunities for NIDA researchers and end-users of research to discuss the issues of research applicability, relevance, and utility to inform future research needs and opportunities through knowledge networks and other strategies;
• Establishes knowledge networks, internal and external education programs in translation and entrepreneurship, conferences, and symposia, provides opportunities for multidirectional communication and collaboration among NIDA Divisions, extra- and intramural researchers, patients, and the general public.
• Conducts data analysis to inform program planning and its iterative improvements, evaluates the impact of previous NOFO/RFA/RFP activities on SBIR/STTR programs and translational research;
• Specifically uses SBIR/STTR mechanisms, prize authority, innovative funding opportunities and strategic alliances to advance NIDA mission.

Who We Are:

Contact Information:

Elena Koustova, Ph.D, MBA
Director, Office of Translational Initiatives and Program Innovations (OTIPI),
NIDA SBIR/STTR Coordinator,
NIDA Challenge Manager
Phone: (301) 496-8768
Fax: (301) 594-6043
Email: elena.koustova@nih.gov

Mailing Address:

Office of Translational Initiatives and Program Innovations (OTIPI)
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institutes of Health/DHHS
6001 Executive Blvd., Room 4286 MSC 9555
Bethesda, MD 20892-9555
Rockville, MD 20852 (For express/courier service)