Privacy Act Memo

DATE:

September 22, 2020

TO:

Brittany Haynes, Ph.D.
Office of Policy, Communications and Education
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

FROM:

NIH Privacy Act Officer

SUBJECT: Applicability of the Privacy Act: Translational Science Interagency Fellowship
(TSIF) Application Sub-study under “Generic Clearance for Application Information
for Fellowship, Internships, Training Programs, and Specialty Positions (National
Cancer Institute)”
I have reviewed the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) submission for
OMB to approve the request for a sub-study under the Generic Clearance for Application
Information for Fellowship, Internships, Training Programs, and Specialty Positions (National
Cancer Institute). The objective of the Translational Science Interagency Fellowship (TSIF)
program is to train a cadre of postdoctoral and staff scientists in translational science research and
research-related to regulatory science and review. The TSIF program between NCATS and the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is intrinsically multidisciplinary and thus fits the purpose
of the NCI generic clearance. Further, the TSIF program and TSIF application is modeled after the
Interagency Oncology Task Force Fellowship (IOTF) program offered through the NCI and
approved through this generic clearance.
I have determined the Privacy Act will apply to the collection of personally identifiable information
including name, contact information, education, citizenship/visa information, and employment
history. All information will be kept private to the extent allowable by law. Review committees within
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the FDA will be able to access the
applications. All applications, which include a curriculum vitae, personal statement, and letters of
recommendation, will be sent to reviewers via encrypted email. Applicants and contributors submit
their information via email or postal service.
This data collection is covered by NIH Privacy Act System of Records 09-25-0014, “Clinical
Research: Student Records.” If you have any questions, please contact my office at (301) 4026201.

Enclosure

Celeste Dade-Vinson