Privacy Act Memo

DATE:

May 8, 2020

TO:

Dr. Chyren Hunter
Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH)
Office of the Director (OD)

FROM:

NIH Privacy Act Officer

SUBJECT: Applicability of the Privacy Act: ORWH e-Learning Courses and Application Portal
I have reviewed the OD submission to the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork
Reduction Act for a new information collection which proposes to develop two online courses that will
provide learners a rationale for the study of biological differences between the sexes, the impact of
sex and gender difference on illness, guidance on incorporating NIH policy on sex as a biological
variable (SABV) into studies, and an exploration of sex and gender-related differences in key disease
areas.
In conjunction with these courses, ORWH will collect and store information in a database through
knowledge checks, pre-/post-attitude assessments, and course/module evaluations. The information
collected will be used to assess uptake and learning of concepts in each lesson, identify demographic
trends across learners in order to inform targeted outreach, assess effectiveness of course materials,
and identify areas of focus for future course improvement, modifications, and expansion. The
information collection will provide a valuable measure of the degree to which ORWH e-learning
courses are furthering the ORWH mission to promote women's health research within and beyond the
NIH scientific community.
I have determined the Privacy Act will apply to this information collection request due to the collection
personally identifiable information such as names, emails, phone numbers, mailing addresses,
employment statuses, gender, race, ethnicity, and login credentials (username and password for
members of the public).
Information will be stored in a secure database behind the NIH firewall and will be collected and
maintained in accordance with Privacy Act System of Records Notices 09-25-0108, Personnel: Guest
Researchers, Special Volunteers, and Scientists Emeriti, HHS/NIH/OHRM; OPM/GOVT-6, Personnel
Research and Test Validation Records; and OPM/GOVT-1, General Personnel Records.
If you have any questions, please contact my office at (301) 402-6201.

Celeste Dade-Vinson
NIH Privacy Act Officer
cc: Elizabeth Barr, OD